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4

Methods of Study in Natural History.

[January,

on

one such plans

is

in

of

In

or

except

in of

lose sight prevalent

diates metry

sym

the bilateral

the other three,

very subordinate

structure; the plan

element

this lowest type parts which vertical axis.

all

Of

ascer

joints end into transverse rings upon each other. the Ra

Articulates,

then, that these largest divisions the animal kingdom are based, but sim ply upon the general structural idea. Striking this statement was, was

to in a

is

by

it

as

at

of

of

us

a

it

Ehrenberg also,

Invertebrates.

at a

and

later period, announced another division under two heads, those with continu ous solid nervous centre, and those with

scattered

But

there was

ther

nervous

swellings."

real progress these latter classifications,

ei

merely

far

to

of

or

on

so

on

a

of

or

of

of

to

of

or

Lamarck,

back

For more details upon the different sys Zoology, see Agassiz's Essay Clas sification his Contributions the Natural History the United States, Vol. on

tems

I.

either

the circulating fluids, that presence the absence

to

In

parts are here again arranged

will bring animals together whatever classify them; set features we try Aristotle, founded on that the division

in

in

the Articu but one cavity, and the parts.

on

is

dividualization

of

a

is a

try either side the body, but the body has but one cavity, and soft, concentrated mass, without distinct

based

of

of

on

to a

the Mollusks, also, the parts are arranged according bilateral symme

between systems different foundations may teach that every structural combination in cludes certain inherent necessities which

This coincidence

ma.

of

In

of

of

on

a

double internal cavity. The parts are symmetrically arranged either side the longitudinal axis the

Aristotle, under the head animals with without blood, the Enaima and Anai

us

col be

of

as

the primary divisions are concerned; for they correspond the old division

on

a

in

low, forming

in

be

the Verte column ter

minating prominent head; this umn has an arch above and an arch

lates there

not this principle, distributed the animal kingdom into two great divisions, which calls Vertebrates the truth

    is a

    stated

    In

    these plans may

    the most general terms. brates there vertebral

    body.

    ani

    in

    on the

    departures

    principle are away from the the true affinities among

    but lead

    of

    of

    Each

    do

    from errors, and recognition animals.

    in

    been made

    his classification, great fundamental

    key

    the

    affinities among Lamarck, his contemporary, the natural

    mals. recognizing

    us

    its

    details

    at

    and many

    but though some

    of

    to

    tempts change improvements have

    new road for study, and gave

    so

    Cuvier's,

    it;

    this division

    all

    of

    to

    every naturalist. tial There have been many criticisms

    classification was opened but

    a

    is

    built

    the plan now essen

    cause, his principle not fully appreciated; note

    the

    Whatever the

    his views.

    of

    structure is

    read the finished on which the whole

    grandeur

    he

    on

    in

    of

    of

    to

    of

    a

    in

    strange city, who looks ler the him, exterior edifices entirely new but knows nothing the plan their internal architecture. To be able to

    haps there was also some jealousy

    no

    like the travel

    of

    this,

    coldly received contempora first naturalists: they could hardly grasp Cuvier's wide generalizations, and per

    to

    can

    he is

    Till

    do

    he

    to

    of

    animals, number must penetrate deep enough into their organization find the secret of their internal structure.

    of

    certain

    he

    a

    of

    characteristic

    features

    a

    to

    it

    no

    as

    of

    With this new principle the basis investigation, longer enough for was the naturalist know certain amount of

    features,

    of

    Radiates.

    sphere,

    ry

    and

    organic

    bear definite relations not upon any special

    It

    he

    structural Cuvier found the whole animal kingdom only four, which called Vertebrates, Mollusks,

    is

    another

    these plans. conceptions

    by

    to

    at

    of

    in or or

    true relations with other animals taining whether they were built

    end

    movable

    of

    that animals

    a

    was found

    whose affinities had been questionable before were now once referred their

    the longitudinal axis, but these animals the whole body divided from side

    to

    it

    to

    its

    The value of this principle was soon application tested by facts already

    known, and

    [January,

    Study in Natural History.

    of

    of

    as so we

    Methods

    an

    4

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