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^ a ERN 
III. Remarks on the Identity of bertain general Laws which have 
been lately observed to regulate fhe natural Distribution of Insects 
and Fungi. By W. S. Macleay, Esq. M.A. F.L.S. 
Read November 5, 1822. 
Tue naturalists of the present day have in one respecta peculiar 
claim to the appellation of disciples of Linnzus; inasmuch as 
they direct their chief attention to what this great master de- 
clared to be the end of all his immortal labours in botany. His 
admirable maxim, that the natural system is the “ ultimus bo- 
tanices finis,” is now not only universally admitted, but on all 
sides acted upon. The natural system is in fact not only made 
the remote consequence, but the immediate aim, of every mo- 
dern observation in natural history; the rule now being, to com- 
mence with supposing nothing known but what has actually 
been observed, and by comparing the affinities thus collected, 
to search after that knowledge of natural groups which in the 
old methods we started with supposing to be already acquired. 
They who formerly confined themselves to artificial systems, 
and neglected the above important maxim .of Linnæus, have 
at least thereby lost much gratification, since, if there be 
nothing within the whole range of human science more worthy 
of profound meditation than the plan by which the Deity 
regulated the creation ; so most assuredly no study is more cal- 
culated to administer pure and unmixed delight. Thus, for 
example, the satisfaction of the mere gazer at a collection of 
animals 
