268 
CARNIVORA* 
and it will be seen, that their incisive and canine 
teeth separate them altogether from those properly 
distinguished as flesh-eaters. 
Professor Illiger names them suhterranea ; and it 
may be observed, that they are all furnished with 
powers of digging and excavating to search for their 
proper food, as well as to provide themselves with a 
habitation. 
Modern systematic writers, who have been di- 
rected by the physical analogy of animals, and mainly 
by their teeth, have been obliged, in order to be 
consistent, to subdivide these little quadrupeds into 
several genera ; hence the science has been en- 
cumbered by the introduction of various new terms 
and appellatives. These seem, particularly at first 
sight, to perplex rather than aid the student; espe- 
cially if he be unacquainted with the Greek language, 
from which such names are principally derived ; and 
many are therefore unwilling to improve upon or at 
all disturb the Linnean plan by any additional re- 
finement or modification. 
Zoological arrangement, like an artificial system 
of mnemonics, is invented to assist the memory by 
grouping, separating, and methodising by analogy 
the living productions of Omnipotence. It is not the 
system of nature, that books can teach us ; but they 
may offer plans for facilitating the acquirement of a 
knowledge of her works. It may be a question, 
whether we do this most effectually by a few general 
rules, and numerous exceptions ; or by increasing 
the former, and reducing the number of the latter: 
