MAMMALIA
For the two classes of Vertebrate animals over which ouryearly report extends, J. J. Kaup endeavours to devise anew scheme of arrangement in his ‘ Classification der Safig-thiere und Vogel/ Darmstadt, 1844.
This attempt is a physio-philosophical classification constructed, with somealterations, according to the principles of Oken. “ The sacred number 5 is,”in the opening words of our author, “ the necessary result of his investi-gations, and is based upon the quinary number of the senses, which are to beregarded as the floral organs or blossoms of the five anatomical systems.Of these last there is, as he assures us further on in the work, exactly thesame number as of the sensorial organs, observing that “ all the rest thatwere framed by Oken must be regarded as subordinate. “ Now the eye isthe blossom of the vital organs or nerves, the ear that of the respiratoryorgans or lungs, the nose of the organs of support or the bones (!!), thetongue of the digestive organs or muscles (!!), the organs of increase or gene-ration the blossom of the integument or tactile organs.” In accordancewith this number five and the serial arrangement of the floral organs, theauthor proceeds to enter into the details of his system, and expresses ahope “that once for all, the time has dawned when science shall be disen-cumbered of unmeaning attempts at systematizing, and the correctness ofthis his arrangement become acknowledged.” In this we would indeed yieldour consent to the author, had it pleased him to adduce proofs of his asser-tions. But he has completely kept to himself the key that should unlockhis own principles; and we must, therefore, with regard to their accuracy,rely merely upon the author’s word for it, and await the time when, no rightbeing conceded to mere credit, many a naturalist may cease to interpret, asstrange or fanciful, the peculiar department of his inquiries. We at onceperceive in this systematizing a fruitless game of fantasy, that, apart from its