4 
state, in by far the greatest part of the substances towards which our in- 
quiries will be directed, will be found to be that of lime-stone, marble, 
calcareous spar, chalk, &c. When found in this state, and still possessing 
traces of their original mode of existence, they will be regarded as fit 
subjects to derive illustration from the labours of the artist. 
LETTER II. 
arrangement of linn;eus....of wallerius....that adopted in 
THE present work. ...zoophytes CLAIM PRIORITY OF EXAMI- 
NATION.... CORALS. 
The arrangement which has been adopted in the present volume 
requires a few words in explanation. Linnaeus commences his arrange- 
ment of secondary fossils with the mineralised remains of man, passes 
on to those of mammalia, birds, amphibia, fishes, and insects, and 
concludes with those of worms ; in which are comprised, asteriae, 
echini, the inhabitants of shells, and those animals which, from 
apparently partaking both of an animal and vegetable nature, have 
been distinguished by the name of zoophytes. After having noticed, 
in this order, the fossil remains of animals, he then proceeds to those of 
vegetables. 
Wallerius, on the other hand, treats first of the vegetable kingdom, 
and then proceeds to arrange those of the animal kingdom, in the 
following order ; corals, worms, shells, insects, amphibia, fishes, birds, 
quadrupeds, and, lastly, man. The latter of these arrangements, ap- 
pearing to be in several respects preferable to the former, it has been 
here nearly adopted. 
