vill PREFACE. 
cessity of frequent changes in the arrangement, to 
keep pace with the progress of science. Within the 
space of thirty years, his system passed through twelve 
editions, the greater number of which were revised by 
himself: these in succession, by the numerous altera- 
tions made in the characters, number and distribu- 
tion of the genera, evinced the depreciated value of 
those which preceded, and predicted the temporary 
excellence of all that should follow. The blind adhe- 
rence of British naturalists to the systematical ar- 
rangement of animals which Linn vs recommend- 
ed, which led them to neglect the important services 
of LisTER and Ray, and reject the methods which 
these illustrious observers had proposed, and their 
hostility to every reformation, appear the more re- 
markable, when it is considered that his Mineralo- 
gical System was arrested in its progress by the fee- 
ble barriers which Woopwarp and Dacosta had 
raised up. Perhaps a part of this influence may be 
traced to the purchase of the Linnean cabinet by 
its present illustrious possessor Sir JamEs Ep- 
WARD SMITH, and the interest in favour of its 
former owner which this circumstance could not 
fail to excite in this country. At all events, there 
is reason to rejoice that this influence, once so 
powerful, is on the decline; and to hope that the 
