t ft. A VIII. ] CLASSIFICATION. 107 



459. Even the ower grade of animals have this faculty of 

 selecting by natural characters, nutritious suhstances, and avoid- 

 ing noxious ones ; thus we see the apparently unconscious 

 i?rutes luxuriating in the rich pastures prepared' for them by a 

 benevolent Creator, cautiously passing by the poisonous weed 

 directed by the curious instinct given them by *his same A' 

 mighty Benefactor. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



V, .- r :i > a I Fam, Hi?* 



450. A natural Jamil]) is composed of several genera of 

 plants which have some common marks of resemblance, and its 

 name is usually founded upon this general character; as La- 

 biate and Cruciform, which are derived from the form of the 

 corollas ; Umbellate and Cory-mbiferous, from the inflores- 

 cence; Leguminous, from the nature of the fruit. 



451. Natural families resemble artificial orders in being com- 

 posed of genera, but the principles on which the genera are 

 h-ouglit together, differ widely in the two cases. 



452. In many natural families, the classification is such as 

 persons who have never studied botany, might make ; thus, dill, 

 fennel, caraway, &c., belong to the umbellate family, on ac- 

 count of the form in which the little stakes, bearing the flower, 

 and afterwards the seed, branch out from one common centre, 

 like the sticks of an umbrella ; this general resemblance is ob- 

 sprved by all, and it seems very natural to class such plants 

 together. 



453. But in the artificial orders, genera which may be very 

 an like in other respects, are brought together from the single 

 circumstance of their having the same number of stamens and 

 pistils. Thus, in the first order of the Sth class, we have the 

 Tulip and the Burlish, the Lily of the valley and the Sweet- 

 Hag. In the second order of the Sth class, we have the Beet 

 and the Elm. You will at once perceive the want of resem- 



419. Are animals capable of distinguishing plants by their natural 

 characters 1 



450. What composes a natural family of Plants, and on what ib its 

 name often founded ? 



451. How do families resemble artificial orders'? 



452. Could a person ignorant of botany form a classification or 

 plants into natural families'? 



453. How are genera brought together in the artificial orders ? 



