SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 369 



so neatly and perspicuously constructed, that 

 the mind may comprehend it, and compare 

 it with others, at one view ; but this can 

 hardly be done when the words much exceed 

 twelve. This rule, of course, can be strictly 

 applied to Latin definitions only, though it 

 should be kept in view in any language, as 

 far as the genius of that lan^uag-e will allow. 

 Linnaeus says, " Genuine specific distinctions 

 constitute the perfection of natural science ;" 

 which is strongly confirmed by the great in- 

 feriority of most botanists, in this depart- 

 ment, to that great man, and especially by 

 the tedious feebleness and insufficiency dis- 

 played among those who court celebrity by 

 despising his principles. 



In constructing generic and specific cha- 

 racters, the arrangement of the different parts 

 on which they are founded is to be consider- 

 ed. Such as are most important in the na- 

 tural order, or genus, are to stand first, and 

 the subordinate, or more peculiar marks of 

 the object before us, ought to close the sen- 

 tence. On the contrary, in drawing up na- 

 tural characters of a genus, as well as full 

 descriptions of particular plants, it is proper 

 2 B 



