SYSTEM OF NATURE. 
147 
we find the greatest possible discrepancy between the value of groups 
which bear the same title. Even our great master in nomenclature, 
Linneus, in his zoological labours pays no regard whatever to this prin¬ 
ciple of uniformity. For instance, if we take his order Pecora in the 
placentals, Passeres in the birds, Coleoptera and Aptera in the insects, 
and carefully analyse their contents, and the characters by which they 
are distinguished, we shall find Aptera about sevenfold more comprehen¬ 
sive than Coleoptera, Coleoptera sevenfold more comprehensive than 
Passeres, and Passeres sevenfold more comprehensive than Pecora, so 
that the relative value of the orders Pecora and Aptera is about as one 
to three hundred and fifty ; the bulk and commercial value of the 
Pecora being thus weighed against variety in structure and economy, 
and numerical preponderance. Most of our scientific entomologists 
have preserved these orders in all their discrepancy. All I desire is or¬ 
der and uniformity. In taking a statistical view of Britain we shall 
find it divided into counties, hundreds, parishes and houses ; and, much 
as houses may vary in size, we never find any of them spoken of as 
hundreds or counties ; neither are small counties ever alluded to as 
parishes or houses. It is the entire absence of this kind of precision 
that makes zoological grouping so vague and unsatisfactory ; and until 
general opinion on this subject undergoes a complete change, the ‘System 
of Nature’ cannot be received: it must be regarded as a tablet engraven 
with hieroglyphics, the key to which is lost. It will be seen that in ac¬ 
cordance with these views I give a similar title to the divisions of Pterota 
and Vertebrata, notwithstanding the immense mental, physical, and 
commercial superiority of the latter. I am aware that I cannot reason¬ 
ably expect zoologists to take this view of the matter without consider¬ 
able demur, still I consider the question one of such vital importance 
that I must be excused if I dwell on it somewhat more fully, and en¬ 
deavour to test the supposed equality of the divisions of Pterota and 
Vertebrata, by selecting for a rapid analysis the best known in each, 
namely, Placentals and Coleoptera. 
The divisions of placentals have been already defined with some 
care : they may be recapitulated thus.— 
Manupedina, equivalent to the Bimana, Quadrumana and Edentata 
tardigrada of Cuvier. Character scandent, or climbing and grasping ■ 
animals whose feet are transmuted into hands ; omnivorous, but mostly 
carpophagous or phyllophagous. 
