286 CONSTRUCTION OF SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 



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 lan- 

 guage, as far as the genius of that language will 

 allow. Linnssus says, " Genuine specific distinc- 

 tions constitute the perfection of natural science ;" 

 which is strongly confirmed by the great inferiority of 

 most botanists, in this department, to that great man, 

 and especially by that tedious feebleness and insufficien- 

 cy displayed among those who court celebrity by despis- 

 ing his principles. 



In constructing generic and specific characters, the 

 arrangement of the different parts on which they are 

 founded is to be considered. Such as are most impor- 

 tant in the natural order, or genus, are to stand first, and 

 the subordinate, or more peculiar marks of the object 

 before us, ought to close the sentence. On the 

 contrary, in drawing up natural characters of a ge- 

 nus, as well as full descriptions of particular plants, it is 

 proper to take, in the former instance, the calyx, corolla, 

 stamens, pistils, seed-vessel, seed and receptacle, and 

 in the latter, the root, stem, leaves, appendages, flower 

 and fruit, in the order in which they naturally occur. 



Nomenclature is no less essential a branch of method- 

 ical science than characteristic definitions ; for, unless 

 some fixed laws, or, in other words, good sense and per- 

 spicuity, be attended to in this department, great confu- 

 sion and uncertainty must ensue. 



The vague names of natural objects handed down to 

 us, in various languages, from all antiquity, could have 



