1XXX RISE AND PROGRESS OF ZOOLOGY. 



This must suffice as a specimen of the me- 

 thod of M- Illiger. He gives the characters first, 

 of the order, then of the family, if they have 

 anything additional, and then of the genus. 



It will easily be seen from this slight view, 

 that M. Illiger's system is by no means dis- 

 tinguished for its simplicity. His passion for 

 learned nomenclature, has carried him very 

 far, and his mania for subdivision has only 

 been exceeded by that of some later writers. 

 He has new named numbers of genera, as 

 well as orders and families. It may also be 

 observed, that though some of his subdivi- 

 sions are natural enough, others are not so ; 

 and many have that vice (which, indeed, in 

 some cases, it is difficult to avoid), of em- 

 bracing subjects in their definition, which 

 are ranged under other subdivisions. M. Illi- 

 ger, however, it must be considered, was but 

 a young man when death put a period to 

 his labours. He has left behind him much 

 that is valuable, and there can be but little 

 doubt, that had he lived, his assiduity and 

 learning, would have rendered him one of the 

 greatest ornaments of zoological science- 



E. P. 



