Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 1 (1843).djvu/6



with the absolute necessity of dividing the overwhelming mass of Natural History into its obvious branches, Zoology and Botam. u e attempt the establishment of two Journals, each rigidly ted to that branch whose name it bears: thus enabling those urn their attention to but one of these studies, to avoid the ex- and inconvenience of purchasing a number of communica- tions in which they feel no interest.

Contributions from all parts of the Kingdom are most earnestly solicited. For the Zoologist these must relate to Quadrupeds, Birds, Reptiles, Fishes, Insects, Shells, Worms, and Animalcules, together with facts and anecdotes relating to their habits, food, retreats, occa- sional appearance, migrations, nests, and young : for the Phytologist the communications must treat of Flowering Plants, Ferns, Mosses, Lichens, Fungi and Seaweeds, their structure, nomenclature, classifi- cation, uses, properties and localities ; and in order that all contribu- tions to these Journals may be perfectly intelligible to every reader, it is requested that Latin descriptions and the technicalities of science be avoided as much as possible.

This work is a reprint, with some additions, of the first and second chapters of an Essay entitled 'Sphinx Vespiformis.'

That there is at present no general system acknowledged in Natural History.

That such a system most probably exists.

That all animals have a tendency to resemble certain normal forms which he supposes central.

That Man is central in a group usually termed Primates.

That the Primates are central in a group known as Placentals. In the second part the author will attempt to show

That the Placentals are central among Vertebrates.

The Vertebrates are central among Animals.

That in a system thus constituted, the various propensities of ani- mals for food or habitation, as connected with air, earth or water, together with the structure incident on such propensities, radiate from Man, the most highly organised form, in the centre, to the most simple forms on the circumference.

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