132 On the Quinary System 



throughout the animal kingdom, and are therefore to be re- 

 garded as the primary types of nature. 



" 5. That the different ranks, or degrees of circular groups 

 exhibited in the animal kingdom, are nine in number, each 

 being involved within the other." 



If any person reflect but for a moment on these proposi- 

 tions, he will at once perceive, that, although they may stand 

 theoretically, to use them practically, or, in other words, to 

 bind nature with certain laws, and to force her to conform to 

 them, is not only artificial, but impossible. Mr. Swainson is 

 fully aware of this ; for we find, in another work, that he 

 gives vent to his feelings, and demonstrates to the world that 

 he considers as impossible that very system he has spent, 

 and is now spending, so much time and reflection in attempt- 

 ing to construct. We refer to page 200. of the volume on 

 the classification of quadrupeds (vol. 72. of Lardner's Cabinet 

 Cyclopaedia); where, speaking of the Edentates, he says, — " A 

 more convincing proof, indeed, cannot be adduced, to show 

 the utter impossibility of laying down rules, beforehand, for 

 natural groups, or for erecting a system upon any set of cha- 

 racters, when nature every where tells us, that her system is 

 one of variation." Had the bitterest enemy, or the most 

 zealous opponent, to the Quinary System sat down to pen a 

 paragraph, or even chapter, against that system, we conceive 

 it would almost be impossible for him to express an opinion 

 more inverse to it than the author himself has in this brief 

 though expressive sentence. 



It might be thought sufficient by some, that, having shown, 

 from the author's own words, the impossibility of his system 

 succeeding, for us now to let the subject rest. It will, how^ 

 ever, bring the Quinary System more under the considera- 

 tion of our readers, if we review the attempt made for its 

 formation, and the success which has attended it : we shall 

 therefore proceed ; and, in order to treat the subject as expli- 

 citly as possible, we shall consider the propositions in the 

 order they stand, commencing with the two first : as they are 

 so intimately connected, it will not be advisable to take them 

 separately. 



These propositions are, " that every natural series of beings, 

 in its progress from a given point, either actually returns, or 

 evinces a tendency to return, again to that point, thereby 

 forming a circle;" and, secondly, that "the primary divi- 

 sions of every group are three actually, or five apparently." 



The meaning of the first proposition is so clear, that we 

 need not dwell on it : that of the second, however, may not 

 be comprehended by some ; we shall therefore give the au^ 



