Classification of Animals. 551 



the other continents, are very few ; he therefore contemplates them 

 as the bond of union wherein the three great Faunas of Europe, 

 Asia, and America meet, and are united together." In the five suc- 

 ceeding chapters he enters into a minute and detailed account of the 

 zoological productions of each province, showing the peculiar forms 

 by which they are characterized. This is carefully and ably executed, 

 and indicates the comprehensive and intimate acquaintance the 

 author possesses of his subject. At the end of each chapter, lists of 

 the genera and subgenera of the animals and birds of each province 

 are given, andnumerous illustrations, beautifully drawn and execut- 

 ed, taken from the various departments of the science, bring for- 

 cibly before the reader the forms peculiar to and characteristic of 

 each geographical division. In conclusion, he adds, " we consider 

 that the facts now stated are sufficiently strong to establish the pro- 

 positions with which this investigation was commenced. We have 

 seen 1st, that animals are distributed upon a plan sufficiently ob- 

 vious in its leading outlines to be comprehended and defined; and 

 2d, that this plan is found to harmonize in many remarkable ways, 

 with that circular disposition, which is the first law of natural clas- 

 sification." 



The rise and progress of Systematic Zoology occupies the second 

 portion of the volume, the first chapter of which, after some preli- 

 minary observations upon^the terms, system, and method, which, al- 

 though by some considered as conveying a different signification, he 

 shows must be taken as synonymous, is chiefly occupied in tracing 

 the distinction between an artificial and a natural system, and the 

 essential requisites which must belong to the latter. The whole of 

 this chapter possesses great interest, and requires an attentive pe- 

 rusal. In the next an exposition of a few of the principal artificial 

 systems is given, comprising those of Aristotle, Willughby, Lin- 

 naeus, and Cuvier ; of the two last as embracing the whole of the 

 animal kingdom from the highest to the lowest groups, he enters 

 into a detailed and minute examination, and, upon the whole, we 

 consider his estimate of the merits of these systems correctly drawn, 

 agreeing with him, that, as an artificial system, the Linneean is best 

 calculated, from the simplicity of its arrangement and the precision 

 of its nomenclature, to effect the object it had in view, viz. the easy 

 discrimination of a species without further reference to its station 

 in the scale. of being, or the analogies by which it is represented. 

 We do not, however, think that ample justice has been done to the 

 labours of Cuvier, for, though the Regne Animal has not proved to 

 be a natural arrangement, and as an artificial one it may in some re- 



