MEMOIR OF REV. JOHN FLEMING, D.D. 665 
taining a large amount of foreign matter mixed mechanically with the crystal- 
lizing substance (which was a true chemical compound), had early arrested his 
attention; and we cannot but regret tliat views so simple, and borne out by 
so many examples, had not been given in a more connected form to the world. 
We hope yet to be able to present a digest of these views, which have so im- 
portant bearings on physical geology. In a paper read to the Wernerian Society 
in March 1823, on the Sertularia cuscuta, and on a new species of Vorticella, it 
appears that he was the first to describe and figure the cilia by which currents 
are produced along the tentacula of polypi. He referred these cilia to the 
branchize, and connected, therefore, more with the aérating than the prehensile 
functions. Our space will not permit us to describe even the salient points of 
the many contributions which Fleming gave about this period to the literature of 
natural history. To ‘“Brewster’s Encyclopedia” he furnished the articles 
Hybernation, Conchology, Ichthyology, Insecta, Helminthology, Natural History, 
and Aphiology. 
To the periodicals of the day he furnished many valuable papers. Among 
these may be mentioned his reviews in the “Edinburgh Monthly Journal” and 
«New Edinburgh Review,” edited by Dr Pootz. These contributions range over 
a wide field of natural history, and display a deep and varied knowledge of so 
extensive a subject; they contain, also, the germs of his first great work, the 
«Philosophy of Zoology.”’? This work was published in 1822, in two volumes. 
It is divided into four parts. The first portion treats of biology in its widest sense ; 
the second part is devoted to the investigation of the characters of animals; the 
third to systems and nomenclature; and the fourth to classification. 
The “Philosophy of Zoology ” met with considerable favour, and its author 
received from the celebrated Ferrusac of Paris and Signor ZanprRiIn1 of Pavia 
the most flattering testimonials of their approbation. Signor Zanprinr showed 
his appreciation of the work by translating it into Italian; and for many years it 
has been the standard work amongst the savans of Italy. 
Cuvier was not so hearty in his approval of the work, as FLEmine had been 
rather hard in some strictures on the great anatomist’s too hasty generalizations. 
His reply to FLEMING, on receiving a copy of the work, is interesting’even for one 
passage, where he repudiates having shown any leanings to materialism in his 
great work the ““Regne Animal.” The letter is dated Paris, 30th Nov. 1824, 
and is in these words :— 
««Srr,—I was well aware previously of all the merit and interest of the work 
which you have published on zoology, and of which I did not fail to possess myself 
at the time; but I attach a new value to the same by receiving a copy direct 
from the author’s own hand. This mark of esteem is infinitely precious to me, 
and I feel most grateful for it. I might have wished, however, that you had 
more deeply or completely understood my theory of the co-existences of organisa- 
