Abstract
IT is probable that most modern zoologists, when unfamiliar with the Scandinavian tongues, know little of the zoological writings of Linmeus beyond the “Systema Naturæ”, and that from this restricted evidence they draw the natural but entirely erroneous conclusion that, considered as a zoologist, Linnreus was little more than a methodical compiler, classifier, and name-giver. If, moreover, the modern zoologist is not so well acquainted with the history of his science as he should be, he is apt to seize rather on the defects, or even absurdities, in the “Systema” as compared with his own knowledge, and to ignore the real advances made by the great Swede over the attempts of his predecessors. There are, as we have hinted, many writings by Linn us that prove the falsity of such opinions, and now another has just been issued by the University of Uppsala which enables one to read between the lines of the “Systema”, and to realise the wide zoological knowledge and still more the philosophy and humanity on which it is based. The volume consists of a complete course of lectures on the animal kingdom, delivered by Linmeus between 1748 and 1752, and collected from the notes made by various pupils, of which more than forty manuscripts are preserved in the university library. The collation of these manuscripts was begun by the late Dr. M. B. Swederus, and has been completed by Dr. Einar Lönnberg, with the help of Miss Greta Ekelöf. The lectures are followed by a detailed commentary and by short accounts of 123 authors quoted by Linnæus; these two parts are by Dr. L önnberg, who has availed himself of the help of various colleagues, living and dead.
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B., F. Lectures on the Animal Kingdom by Linnæus 1 . Nature 94, 34–35 (1914). https://doi.org/10.1038/094034c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/094034c0