vi PREFACE. 



country, than that of any other branch of Natural His- 

 tory. In this science at least, we possess a superiority 

 which our continental neighbours cannot dispute; and the 

 name of Brown will be enrolled in the brightest page of 

 our philosophic inquirers. 



That the prejudiced adherence to the strict Linnsan 

 system, has been the primary cause why Zoology has 

 been more neglected with us than on the Continent, will 

 admit of little doubt ; for by shutting the door to all fur- 

 ther improvement, it has impressed the generality of our 

 countrymen with an idea, that the highest object of the 

 Naturalist was to label the contents of a museum, and 

 to arrange stuffed animals, like quaint patterns of old 

 china, in glass cases: to thinking minds no less than to the 

 vulgar, this idea has produced a feeling of contempt and 

 ridicule, and very few of those qualified by nature for 

 accurate investigation and philosophic reasoning, have 

 been induced to make the science a study; and thus from 

 such an unfortunate prejudice, to use the words of a pow- 

 erful writer of the present day, "some future historian of 

 the progress of human knowledge, will have to state that 

 England, till within the few last years, stood still at the 

 bottom of the steps where Linnasus had left her ; while 

 her neighbours were advancing rapidly towards the en- 

 trance of the temple*." 



Finally — Linnaeus to a comprehensive genius united in- 

 defatigable industry; yet he could not see and study those 

 innumerable productions that have been discovered since 

 his death : in proportion as our knowledge of objects in- 

 creases, so must our systems change, until the natural one 

 is fully developed ; and the question simply comes to this, 

 Whetlier the Linntean method should be upheld as a so- 

 litary exception to the mutability of human wisdom. 



The sun of truth niust however finally prevail, and 

 there is every reason to think it has already broke, and 



* Hura Eidomologic(c, hy W. S. MacLeay, Esq. M.A. of Trinity College, 

 Cambridge. London, 1819. A work which for aciiteness of reasoning and 

 profound research, has never been equalled either in this, or perhaps ux 

 any other country. 



