LINN JEAN SYSTEM. 



xxxi 



the latter are now become so numerous, " the superior " and 6i the 

 higher naturalists," # as they are called in the Zoological Journal, 

 should leave it " to meaner hands to carry the muster-roll," f 

 since they cannot have the same pretence for employing them- 

 selves upon the inferior departments, as Lord Bacon had. " I 

 have heard his lordship," says the Rev. Dr. Rawley, " speak 

 complainingly, that his lordship (who thinketh that he deserveth 

 to be an architect in this building) should be forced to be a work- 

 man and a labourer, and to dig the clay and burn the brick." J " In 

 the description of species and the analysis of groups," says Mr. 

 Vigors, most justly, 66 we act at best but as the pioneers of science ; 

 and in the 4 obscure diligence ' by which we work out such mecha- 

 nical details, we deserve the credit merely of executing those sub- 

 ordinate duties, which may ultimately enable ourselves or others, 

 from judiciously and comprehensively continuing the results of 

 our labours, to confer true interest upon our pursuits." § 



A lexicon, or explanatory catalogue, is of unquestionable and 

 indispensable use, for the purpose of identifying the species which 

 may come under observation, or chance to be connected with in- 

 teresting discussion and detail. Even a collection of synonimes, if 

 executed with accuracy, is important, as I daily find the minutely 

 correct catalogue of Mr. Stephens to be, with regard to insects ; 

 and with this view, I have paid considerable attention to synonimes 

 in this work. But nobody beyond the barriers of Linnseanism could 

 ever dream of designating any of these (useful though they be) 

 a Natural History, any more than of calling a work like Blair's 

 Chronology, the History of the World. The best work of this 

 description with which I am acquainted, upon birds, is the " Ma- 

 nuel d'Ornithologie " of Temminck, which, though essentially 

 Linnsean, is much more circumstantial and accurate than is usual 

 with the disciples of this school. It evidently proves, however, 

 that the author is much better acquainted with collections of 

 stuffed specimens than with living birds, except such aquatic ones 

 as frequent the shores of Holland ; || and in this point of view, it 

 contrasts strongly with the Dictionary of Montagu. 



* Zoological Journal, iii. 470. 

 t New Syst. of Nat. Hist. ii. 7, 8vo, Edinb. 1792. 

 % Sylva Sylvarum, Pref. § Zool. Journ. iii. 435. 



|| Temminck, Manuel, Avant-propos. 



