LINNiEAN SYSTEM. REPTILES, ETC. 151 



to the lowest assemblages, formed from species. He 

 was obviously ignorant that there were in nature any 

 definite groups. The Linnsean genera, therefore, are 

 found to be, for the most part, families ; still they 

 remain groups, many of which, under subordinate di- 

 visions, have been preserved entire. And although 

 the orders are objectionable, the series of genera within 

 those orders show that Linnseus consulted natural af- 

 finities as much as the artificial plan of his arrangement 

 would possibly allow of. Had his disciples, instead of 

 being indolently content with treading in the footsteps 

 of their master, imitated his example in improving his 

 system, as his materials increased, and as fresh light 

 broke in upon his subject, — had they done this, they 

 would have preserved his name in its original splendour, 

 and their own' from obUvion. Notwithstanding this, 

 however, we strongly recommend to every student a 

 careful perusal of the Systema NaturcE, as essential to an 

 acquaintance with modern and existing arrangements, 

 whether natural or artificial. Of the latter it is unques- 

 tionably the best ; and by thoroughly understanding its 

 principles, the student will gain a general acquaintance 

 with forms, and a conviction how utterly useless all iso- 

 lated arrangements now are, when we have to deal with 

 such enormous multitudes of species. 



(203.) The reptiles, under the name of Amphibia, 

 were placed by Linnseus after the birds. It does not 

 appear, however, that our author had very definite no- 

 tions on this class, as will appear from the three sub- 

 divisions under which the whole are arranged; — viz. 

 1 . Reptiles, furnished with feet ; 2. Serpentes, destitute 

 of feet; and, 3. Nantes, furnished with fins, and 

 breathing by lateral openings. The first and second 

 comprise the modern classes of Reptilia and Amphibia, 

 but the third are true fishes. It is, indeed, surprising 

 that Linnoeus should have fallen into this mistake, after 

 Artedi had pointed out the true situation of these ani- 

 mals. The class of reptiles does, indeed, pass into that 

 of fish, by means of the ichthyosaurus, and the sharks j 



I. 4 



