356 PRACTICAL AND SCIENTIFIC ZOOLOGY. 
that, if he first makes himself acquainted with the lead- 
ing characters of the great or primary divisions of 
entomology, he will be at once prepared to commence 
this search among the families or the sub-families, and 
thus abridge a great part of his labour. ‘The adage 
says, the longest way at first is the nearest at last ; and 
so the beginner will find in the case we have just 
instanced. To learn names by rote is parrot-like ; it 
farther partakes of the scansorial nature, by teaching 
him to be climbing over the wall, instead of pursuing 
the regular road to knowledge. 
(438.) Distinguishing names have been assigned ‘to 
the study of distinct portions of the animal kingdom, 
and are employed to designate its different branches. 
The study of the Mammalia, or quadrupeds has been 
termed Mammalogy, that of birds Ornithology, that of 
reptiles Hypetology, and that of fishes Ichthyology. 
Entomology has been usually applied to the study of. all 
the annulose class, although it might be as well, per- 
haps, were it limited to true insects. Conchology, in like 
manner, designates the study of shell-fish. The studies 
of the radiated and of the polypous animals have not yet 
received distinguishing names. The use of these terms 
is of much convenience, and will be employed in the 
following hints. 
(439.) The study of quadrupeds, although they form 
the most important division of all animals, is not 
particularly inviting. Those of our own country are 
very few, and come not daily before us ; while those of 
other countries are but thinly scattered in public 
museums, or are merely seen, in a state of confine- 
ment, in travelling menageries or zoological gardens. 
The species, moreover, from their comparative fewness, 
have been better investigated and are more thoroughly 
known, than those of any other class. Travellers, or 
those who reside out of Europe, may yet make im- 
portant discoveries, both as to new species, or by supply- 
ing information on the natural habits of such as are 
already known. The latter, indeed, even as regards 
