LINNiEAN SYSTEM. 



XXV 



sprays of the tree of nature ; but the larger branches were left to 

 chance and the caprice of scientific men." * " Like the religion of 

 Mahomet," says Mr. MacLeay, 44 the Linnsean system has given 

 rise, in some parts of Europe, to an unfortunate species of self-con- 

 tent, a barbarous state of semi-civilization, which is so far worse 

 than absolute ignorance, that the existence of it seems to preclude 

 every attempt at further improvement ;"f and again, in no very gra- 

 cious phrase, he talks of 44 the defunct or dying Linnsean school;" J 

 and in terms still more marked he says, 44 1 myself was one of the 

 first, I acknowledge, to declare just war against them ;" [ 4< the 

 old Linnsean school of England,"] 44 but they are now at their 

 last gasp. A few days more and their existence will be matter of 

 history." § The truth seems to be, that the Linnsean system 

 mainly contributed to extinguish the genuine study of nature, and 

 rendered it unpopular for many years; since almost every writer 

 surrendered himself unconditionally to its shackles, and of course 

 repelled every student imbued with a particle of philosophy or of 

 taste, or alive to the glorious beauties of the Creation. 



The reader may at once see the difference between the dry, 

 lifeless, marrowless, and unphilosophic descriptions of the Lin- 

 nsean School, and the plan pursued in the present work, by com- 

 paring the two accounts of any particular bird, — the eagle, for 

 example, or the bank swallow (Hirundo riparia, Ray.) The 

 latter is thus described by Linnseus : 44 Cinereous ; chin and belly 

 white. Inhabits Europe and North America; four inches and 

 three-quarters long ; builds in holes in sand pits and banks of 

 rivers. Bill blackish; throat encircled with a mouse-coloured 

 ring ; legs black, downy behind." || 



* Zool. Journ. i. 430. f Horse Entomol. Pref. p. 21. 



% Zool. Journ. iv. 408. 



§ A Letter on the Dying Struggle of the Dichotomous System. By W. S. 

 MacLeay, Esq. M. A. Addressed to N. A. Vigors, Esq., M. A., Sec. Zool. Soc. 

 page 35. 8vo. Printed by R. Taylor, London, 1830. 



|| Turton's Linnaeus, i. 629. The original, still more brief, adheres to the 

 rule of twelve words : H. riparia, cinerea, gula abdomineque albis — Habitat in 

 Europee collibus arenosis abruptis, foramine serpentino." — Linnseus, Syst. Nat. 

 Ed. 12. p. 344. This is besides quite inaccurate ; for the bird does not " inhabit 

 a serpentine hole ;" it only rears its young there : few birds make any other use 

 of their nests. 



