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PREFACE. 
From this period every Writer on thefe fubjebls 
propofed his own method as an example ; fome 
openly, but others more covertly, aiming at the 
honor of originality, and attempting to feelc for 
fame in the path chalked out by Mr. Ray ; but too 
often without acknowleging the merit of the Guide. 
Mr. Klein, in 1751, made his appearance as 
a Syhematic Writer on Quadrupeds, and in his firft 
order follows the general arrangement of Mr. Ray ; 
but the change he has made of feparating certain 
animals, which the laft had confolidated, are exe¬ 
cuted with great judgement. Fie feems lefs fortu¬ 
nate in his fecond order; for, by a fervile regard to 
a method taken from the number of toes, he has 
jumbled together moil: oppofite animals ; the Camel 
and the Sloth, the Mole and the Bat , the Glutton 
and Apes happy only in throwing back the Walrus, 
the Seal , and the Manati , to the extremity of his 
fyftem: I fuppofe, as animals nearly bordering on 
another clafs. 
M. Brisson, in 1756, favored the world with 
another fyftem, arranging his animals by the num¬ 
ber or defeat of their teeth •, beginning with thofe 
that were toothlefs, fuch as the Ant-eater , and end¬ 
ing with thofe that had the greateft number, fuch 
as the Opojjum. By this method, laudable as it is 
in many refpebts, it muft happen unavoidably that 
fome Quadrupeds, very diftant from each other in 
their manners, are too clofely coanebted in his 
Syftem; a defebl, which, however common, fhould 
be carefully avoided by every Naturalift. 
In 
