BRACHYURI. 179 



nearest kindred. It is we, however, who spread confusion, who kaow 

 not the origin of order, or whether what we behold is designed to be 

 temporary or permanent. 



Yet liow grateful ought not we to he to the Author of symmetrj' 

 and perfection, those two qualities binding the world together, for the 

 faculties whereby we are enabled to discover the grand basis of universal 

 harmony in a common bond of union. We, who are so liable to be 

 overwhehned by sickness and sorrow, — whom personal infirmity bows to 

 the earth, are nevertheless permitted to contemplate the marvellous pro- 

 ducts of Heaven, — to conjecture their ends and purposes, and thence to 

 detei'mine in our own mind the boundless power of Omnipotence. How 

 is our gratitude for such ineflfable favour to be shewn ? how shall we 

 bear record amidst the action, the infinity of time and space, elevating 

 each succeeding thought and reflection to the will of the Divine Author ? 



Let us pray the Father of mercies to permit our swelling breasts to 

 heave with adoration of his indulgent favour to ourselves, and the ob- 

 jects of our preference. 



Nothing can be more desirable than to complete the plan we are now 

 following, in the classification of such animals as bear a reciprocal resem- 

 blance, and their subdivision into smaller sections, when allied by common 

 features ; for, by this means, they may be easily recognised, and their 

 position adjusted. 



Yet it has never been distinctly laid down where or how the com- 

 mencement of a genus introduces the student to its discussion. There- 

 fore we must still submit to considerable inconvenience, rectifying it 

 progressively where opportunity admits. We must summon the aid of 

 all auxiliaries, rejecting the fashion of some observers, in precipitately 

 concluding that their own comments ai'e not only the latest, but the 

 best. 



The Portimus lividus is a very beautiful and symmetrical animal, 

 decked in lively colours ; and is to be viewed as among the finest speci- 

 mens of the Cancer tribe of moderate dimensions. 



Recollecting the various diversity of form and arrangement belong- 

 ing to each different animal, there is little to restrain its separation from 



