142 ON SYSTEMATIC ZOOLOGY. 



we shall comprehend, in a single group, nearly the whole 

 of the Linnaean Vermes, the only exceptions being the 

 aberrant or imperfectly organised Insecta ; such as the 

 Cirripedes, the intestinal worms, and the Annelides. 

 But let us glance at the principles on which the whole 

 animal kingdom is first divided into three primary 

 groups ; for it is, perhaps, the most defective point in 

 the scheme. The heart is fixed upon as the corner 

 stone of the system ; and this error, of adopting one 

 exclusive character, and giving it a paramount import- 

 ance over all others, contributed perhaps more than any 

 thing else to blind our author, and prevent him from 

 seizing the much more obvious and natural divisions of 

 Vertehrata and Invertebrata as the groundwork of his 

 system. Be this, however, as it may, a natural group 

 will stand any test ; and hence we find, that, although 

 the true character of some of these orders were not 

 perceived, they are for the most part truly natural. We 

 shall now proceed to investigate each of these classes in 

 detail. 



(194.) The primary divisions and character o{ Mam- 

 malia are as follows : — 



I. Primates. Fore teeth cutting, the upper four pa- 

 rallel, except in some species of bats, which have two 

 or three tusks, solitary ; that is, one on each side in 

 each jaw; teats two, pectoral; of the feet, two are 

 hands ; nails, usually flattened, oval : feed on fruits, 

 except a few which use animal food. 



II. Bruta. Fore teeth wanting; feet with strong hoof- 

 like nails ; motion slow : mostly feed on masticated 

 vegetables. 



III. Fer^e. Fore teeth conic, usually six in each jaw ; 

 tusks longer, grinders with conic projections ; feet 

 with claws, which are subulate : feed on other ani- 

 mals. 



IV. Glires. Two cutting fore teeth in each jaw ; tusks 

 none ; feet with claws, formed for running and leap- 

 ing : feed on bark, vegetables^ &c., which they gnaw. 



