FAMILY

In Zoology, the group next in value and comprehensivene above the genus; existing in fact, though under the name of the genus, in the cla ification of Linnaeus, who indicated the different groups of species therein comprehended by numbers, instead of collective appellations.Such divisions of the Linnaean genus occur only in those instances in which an unusual number of species presented themselves to the consideration of the clear-sighted Swede. The progre of modern discovery has added so many new forms to the naturalist's catalogue, as to render nece ary a corresponding subdivision of most of the Linnaean genera. To these subordinate groups of species distinct names are given, for the sake of convenience; and in order to designate the natural family which these groups compose, the name of the original or typical genus is generallr [s. 456]