THE MOLLUSCA OF ARISTOTLE. 95 



highest productions of modern science. This 

 cannot be said of any otner ancient author who 

 has treated of similar subjects. The philosophical 

 spirit which pervades the History of Animals 

 distinguishes it from, and elevates it above, the 

 great majority of the natural-history writings of 

 the moderns, and renders the study of that great 

 work a sound course of reading in the education 

 of the student of natural history. Or rather, 

 such should be ; for unfortunately the acquain- 

 tance of too many modern naturalists with the 

 writings of the Stagyrite is confined to the bare 

 knowledge of the existence of his memorable 

 History. 



The term mollusca (/maXayria), now employed 

 by naturalists to designate one of the five great 

 types and primary divisions of the animal kingdom, 

 was applied by Aristotle to the cuttle-fishes only. 

 By the absence of (red) blood he distinguished 

 them from true fishes ; and by the presence of an 

 internal skeleton, more or less developed from 

 testaceous mollusks, whilst he recognized a cha- 

 racter peculiar to themselves in the position of 

 the head, " between the feet and the body." 

 Under five genera he classed the several species 

 of Cephalopoda known to him, nine in number. 



