599 



tained : as if the external form and colours of the 

 animals were of no importance in the specific cha- 

 racter. On this subject the observations of Mr. 

 Schneider appear to be perfectly just. 



Ingenia curiosorum primus acuit Linnasus 

 ad investigandas corporum naturalium atque ani- 

 malium notas ; verum postquam accedente philo- 

 sophia et zootomia pomoeria scientias naturalis 

 multo latins promota fuerunt, raro curiosorum 

 lectorum desiderio satisfaciunt breves amphibio- 

 rum notationes singulis speciebus in systemate 

 Linnseano appositas. " 



Mr. Schneider goes on to observe, that, unless 

 a more ample mode of description be adopted, 

 there is reason to apprehend that the authority of 

 the Linnsean characters of the Amphibia, and of 

 Serpents in particular, will become entirely ob- 

 solete. 



Aucto enim amphibiorum cognitorum nu- 

 mero, plures forms notas cum pluribus speciebus 

 communicari fuit necesse, quas ille, quibusdam 

 proprias putaverat ; plurcs etiam omisisse ilium 

 probabile est obscuras in exemplis junioribus vel 

 vinaceo liquore nimis maceratis, vel contemsisse 

 adeo velut inn tiles, dum ipse nimis scutorum nu- 

 mero confidebat, quas deinde in adultis et recte 

 cognitis exemplis eminentiores observavit curio- 

 sorum diligentia, vel assumere investigata^s coegit 

 dubitatio et criteriorum Linnssanorum cognita va- 

 nitas. Quod nisi fit, prope adest, ut verear, ne 



