CHAPTER 19. 
his fucceffors in the fame line have equally 
applauded, and availed themfelves of. It is 
profefTedly the bafis of that method, by 
which the prefent eminent zoologift of this 
nation, has chofen to convey his learned 
publications, and by v^hich he has not lefs 
happily diffufed a tafte for this fcience, than 
he has fuccefsfully improved its flore. 
In treating on animals in general, intro- 
duclory to his work, he difcuffes feme im- 
portant queftions, which had not then 
ceafed to agitate the philofophical world. 
He controverts, with extreme force of rea- 
foning, the ideas of equivocal or fponta- 
neous generation ; the Lewenhoekian hypo- 
thefis; and that of all animals being created 
from eternity, and only latent in an in- 
volved ftate. I know not where the reader 
can fee thefe queftions difcuffed with equal 
concifenefs and judgment united. 
Mr. Ray's Diilribution of Animals is not 
wholly founded, as to the grand divifions, 
on the Arijiotelian diftinftions ^ though he 
admits many of them. It is not within ray 
plan to enter on this fubjed:; it is fufficient to 
©bferve^ that ^adrupeds here form two great 
divifions. 
