122 



PART II. 



ON THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF SYSTEMATIC ZOOLOGY. 



CHAPTER I. 



PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. ALLEGED DIFFERENCE BE- 

 TWEEN SYSTEMS AND METHODS. OBJECTIONS THERETO. 



DIVERSITY OF SYSTEMS. NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL SYS- 

 TEMS. MIXED SYSTEMS. REQUISITES OF A NATURAL SYS- 

 TEM. 



(174.) The arrangement of objects^ according to a 

 scale or table of their supposed relations or qualities, is 

 called a systesi, a method^ or a classification. We 

 shall consider these words as synonymouSj and as imply- 

 ing ORDER, without which all knowledge is vague and 

 disjointed. By system, therefore, we are able to gain not 

 only a more ready acquaintance with an individual spe- 

 cies, but also general ideas on the larger groups of 

 which it forms but a part. System condenses and fa- 

 cilitates knowledge, and is therefore essential to its ac • 

 quirement. Even if the names of all natural objects 

 were arranged alphabetically, as in a dictionary, there 

 would be system and order in such a plan, for research 

 would be facilitated. Whereas, if all these names were 

 entered indiscriminately, the student would be at a loss 

 at what page to find the particvdar name for which he 

 was searching. 



(175.) Between a system and a method, many writers 

 have drawn a distinction, and have used the two words ia 

 totally different senses. Kirby and Spence express them- 

 selves on this subject in the following words : — " Thus 

 we hear of a natural method, and a natural system. Linne 

 seems to have regarded the former of these terms as re- 

 presenting the actual disposition of objects in nature, 

 while by system he understands their classification and 



