

The System of Nature. 1167 



showing that there are seven groups in the elass of marsupials, corre- 

 sponding with those of the placentals, the Pterodactyles are brought 

 forward as a counterpart to the bats. Mr. Newman must excuse this; 

 he feels the doubt, and, according to his promise, he should dispel it. 



In the third chapter, entitled " Birds a distinct class," the author 

 applies to the division of birds the principle by which he has at- 

 tempted to prove the distinctness and integrity of the marsupials. 

 Mr. Newman defines the leading characteristics of each group of the 

 placentals, and adduces what he considers its parallel among birds : 

 the chapter is replete with interest, and we may say the same of the 

 fourth ; it gives us a new view of the classification of reptiles, which, 

 although confessedly hypothetical, is well worthy the attention of 

 zoologists. 



The fifth chapter is the most orthodox of all. It is devoted to 

 fishes ; and after adopting the usual division into bony and cartilagi- 

 nous, the author shows that each of these groups contains representa- 

 tives of the great divisions of the other. 



The sixth chapter commences with these observations : — 



" Having thus indicated the six classes by which I suppose the placental class to 

 be surrounded, it becomes necessary to show in what manner I propose connecting 

 them. I have ventured, at page 12, to suggest that the placentals divide into seven 

 tribes, one of which is normal and central, three subnormal, and stationed at certain 

 distances around the centre, and the remainder abnormal, stationed at a greater dis- 

 tance and alternating with the subnormal tribes. A similar disposition of the classes 

 seems to me in accordance with nature. The placentals form the normal and central 

 group ; the marsupials, cartilaginous fishes and pachydermatous reptiles form the sub- 

 normal groups ; birds, true fishes and true reptiles form the abnormal groups, or, in 

 other words, recede farthest from the central and normal form of man. The subnor- 

 mal and abnormal groups appear to alternate with each other in this order, — marsu- 

 pials, birds, cartilaginous fishes, bony fishes, reptiles cased in armour, scaly or naked 

 reptiles ; and the relative mutual similarities of the seven groups may be shown thus : 



AVES. 



PISCES CART. MARSUPIALIA. 



PLACENTALIA. 



PISCES OSSEI. CATAPHRACTA. REPTILIA. 



I will now endeavour to explain my reasons for supposing the placentals thus sur- 

 rounded."— p. 69. 



And this Mr. Newman has truly and most happily realized by a 

 series of observations replete with originality and research. The like 



