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1823.] the natural Distribution of Insects and Fungi* 333 



stand him as meaning, that there are in every circle first a type 

 or normal form expressing the perfection of the superior group 

 to which it belongs ; and secondly, annectent groups connecting 

 this type with other groups. Or, to take his own words, " la 

 centrum quod species plurimas continet, character optime qua- 

 drat. Radii ad reliquas classes (scilicet ordines, genera, &c.) 

 abeuntes, utriusque classis characterem conciliant, sed ad illam 

 (viz. the typical group) cujus character maxime eminet refe- 

 runtur." 



If then the determinate number in which Fungi are naturally 



frouped be four, and if it thus appears that, according to 

 I. Fries, every natural group is a circle, having in its circum- 

 ference a point of perfection or typical group called a centrum, 

 and annectent groups called radii, it is evident that there must 

 be one centrum and three radii for every group. But observe what 

 immediately follows as the result of M. Fries's observation: 

 " Centrum abit semper in duas series, inferiorem et superiorem, 

 quarum ilia ad antecedentem hsec ad sequentem classem (1. ra- 

 dium) evidentius accedit." 



This rule being determined, M. Fries goes on moreover to 

 say, that these two series which compose the centrum are always 

 analogous at their corresponding points. Consequently, in 

 every circle he admits the existence of two central groups and 

 three radial; that is, in all, five natural groups. Now this truly 

 is the case throughout the whole animal kingdom. Organizea 

 matter is the centrum of matter, and is composed of animals and 

 vegetables. Articulata,^ or animals possessing an articulated 

 axis, form the centrum of the animal kingdom, and are composed 

 of Verlebrata and Attnulosa. The Ftilota of Aristotle, or winged 

 insects, form the centrum of the Annulosa, and are divided into 

 Mandibulata and Haustellata. And so on, we shall ever find a 

 natural group to be a circle of five minor groups, and that two 

 of these minor groups form what M. Fries would call a centrum, 

 or, more correctly, have some character in common which dis- 

 tinguishes them from the other three. That neither of these 

 groups, viz. organized matter, Articulala or Ptilota, is a circle, 

 must be obvious to every observer : and consequently they do 

 not fall within the sphere of M. Fries's definition already given 

 of a natural group, but each of them form two circles, which 

 therefore, according to our author, are natural groups. We 

 might turn even to the v/ell-known great division of the vegeta- 

 ble kingdom into phsenogamous or cotyledonous and cryptoga- 

 mous or acotyledonous plants, where the former are clearly the 

 centrum J and divisible nito two natural groups ; but surely 

 enough has been said to show, that the notion of M. Fries on 

 this head is in every respect, but the mode of expressing it, the 

 same identically with mine. When he states the determinate 



* This name has been applied to the Annulosa, as characterizing them alone, but 

 improperly, inasmuch as the vertebrated animals are articulated. 



