ADVERTISEMENT. 



the forms of artificial arrangement, than there is with reipecl to thofe 

 dalles, of which the number of fpecies is fo great, that they could not be 

 identified and retained in the memory without every adventitious aid. The 

 illuftrious and eloquent BufFon was therefore contented with diftributing 

 Quadrupeds into groups of fpecies allied by general refemblances, without 

 being folicitous to eftablifh any fundamental characters on which to form 

 divifions or fubdivifions. This laxity of method, however, cannot but be 

 regarded as a defect in a fyftem intended to comprehend every individual 

 fpecies, and to ferve for reference and confultation. 



Our able countryman, Mr. Pennant, following the footfteps of his 

 excellent predecefTor, Ray, has done better, in adopting a clarification, which, 

 embracing feveral circumftances important in the animal economy, has 

 brought together fpecies for the moft part limilar in their nature and way of 

 life, whilft it has eftablifhed certain fpecific and difcriminating marks to 

 facilitate invefligation. How far it is an improvement upon fuch an 

 arrangement to take a Jingle circumftance for the leading mark of diftinclion, 

 and to form divifions upon a fimilarity in this refpedl alone, regardlefs of 

 other more obvious and important points in the economy of the fubjecl:, 

 will admit of a queftion. Such a method has the advantage of uniformity, 

 but it frequently violates natural connection : it has more of the appearance 

 of fcience, but lefs of the truth of nature. 



The formation of genera, however, is not materially different in the two 

 fyftem s; and the manner in w4iich thefe are difpofed in the fuperior divifions, 

 is of little importance to one who attentively fludies the generic and fpecific 

 characters. 



