138 ON SYSTEMATIC ZOOLOGY. 



tinct order, are, unquestionably, a part only of the Neu- 

 Toptera. This will be apparent to any one who analyses 

 and studies these groups in detail, and with the requi- 

 site degree of attention. It is clear, also, from the 

 above table, that Aristotle perceived, theoretically, the 

 two great divisions of Insecta, namely, the Ptilota, or 

 ■winged group, and the Aptera, or wingless insects. It 

 would, indeed, have been surprising, if, with the few 

 dozen of insects which in all probability formed the 

 scanty materials that guided his judgment, he had not 

 greatly erred in the application of his theory : seeing that 

 in almost every family group there are representations 

 of the apterous classes : but this is a very minor con- 

 sideration, and detracts nothing from his astonishing 

 talent, in thus anticipating, in part, the discoveries of 

 eighteen centuries. It must ever redound to the fame 

 of Linnaeus, that he followed so closely the footsteps of 

 the Grecian sage ; for his entomological system, above 

 aU others, comes nearest to that of Aristotle, and, in our 

 estimation, nearest to that of Nature. Whether we are 

 right in this opinion, time only will discover. 



(I89.) The zoological system of WiUughby, as given 

 by Ray, cannot be passed over in this place, although we 

 are by no means disposed to unite in the high encomiums 

 which have lately been bestowed upon it. In the 

 classification of the Mammalia we trace nothing of 

 primary importance which had escaped the penetration 

 of Aristotle, unless it be the true character of the Glires, 

 or mouse-hke quadrupeds.* The arrangement of the 

 birds, viewed in connection with the injudicious addi- 

 tions of Ray, is any thing but clear, definite, or na- 

 tural ; while that of insects, as exhibited by Mr. Kirby t, 

 and here presented to the reader, has no very high ex- 

 cellency. Both this and Swammerdam's are founded 

 too exclusively upon metamorphoses ; and by this un- 

 fortunate bias entomology made a retrograde movement. 

 The primary groups of Aristotle were broken up, and 

 the following artificial arrangement was the result : — 



* Linn. Trans, vol. xvi. p. 25. 



