452. ON THE TRIBES 



those orders of Metamorphota, which Linnaeus did little 

 more than name, and the founder of that classification of 

 Ametamorphota, which the other did no more than adul- 

 terate, was one of the original advocates of a maxim which 

 does honour to Fabricius : " Metamorphosis insectorum ad 

 ordines naturales viam pandit, ideoque semper observanda 

 et disthicte tradenda." If to the authority of Ray that 

 of Lister and Willughby be added, I suppose we shall 

 have cited the three greatest names in Zoology of which 

 England can boast ; and if I should err in considering Me- 

 tamorphosis the key to the natural arrangement of the An- 

 nulosa, it will always be some consolation to think that I 

 have erred with such men. But it is impossible that I 

 can have much deceived myself in this respect: it is incre- 

 dible that such footsteps can have led me far astray from 

 nature, when the consequences of following them mani- 

 festly produce an uniformity of plan, a geneial harmony 

 of one part with another, which afford the best proof that 

 any fault which may be discovered in the preceding re- 

 marks, ought not at least to be attributed to the method of 

 investigation. 



It is but too true, however, that the Linnsean school, 

 and more lately that of Lamarck, have been led into error 

 by observing that the methods of Swammerdam, Lister, 



of this admirable philosopher have never in this country been properly 

 appreciated. To say that he was a great naturalist, is not enough ; we ought 

 to add that in Zoology at least he was the master of Linnffius, and that but 

 too often the depth of his views appears to have been beyond the compre- 

 hension of his pupil. The only advantage over him which Linnanis enjoys, 

 is not in the general conception of the animal kingdom, but in the clearness 

 of details ; not so much in the power as in the facility which the latter ac- 

 quired of communicating knowledge by means of his unrivalled artifice of 

 nomenclature. At last the cloud which has so long eclipsed the reputation 

 of Ray passes off; but they are not his countrymen who can claim the credit 

 of having dispelled it. M. Cuvier styles him " le premier veritable milho- 

 disie pour le regne animal, guide principal de Linnuus." How far the latter 

 has acknowledged the obligation, his various works testify. 



