RISE AND PROGRESS OF ZOOLOGY. IxiX 



in the preceding edition, and in the Fauna 

 Suecica. 



After his own specific name, he gives the 

 synonymes of the most reputed and authentic 

 writers, with reference to the pages of their 

 works, and to the best figures of his subject ; 

 then the locus natalis, and, in many instances, 

 a short but comprehensive history of the na- 

 ture, economy, and uses of the animal. To 

 every species the author has affixed his tri- 

 vial name, expressive, most commonly, of the 

 place where the animal is found, of its colour, 

 form, or other quality ; or in many instances, 

 when the subject has been well known by 

 an arbitrary term, he retains that as his trivial 

 name. 



This arrangement of Linnaeus appeared to 

 possess one very great advantage, and that 

 is, that in a few lines, he gives a distinction 

 immediately pointing out the animal in ques- 

 tion, and one that is easily retained in the me- 

 mory. But this advantage, great as it may 

 appear, has given birth to some incongruities, 

 which more than counterbalanced its good 

 effect. It has been objected, that, by confining 

 himself too closely to one kind of character, 

 Linnaeus has thrown together, in different parts 

 of his system, subjects widely remote in their 



