282 STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 
Car. Vie 
ON THE IMPORTANCE OF ANALOGY WHEN APPLIED TO 
THE CONFIRMATION OF THEORY. 
(191.) We have already explained, and familiarly 
illustrated, the two sorts of relations which natural 
objects bear to each other, and which are distin- 
guished by the terms Analogy and Affinity. The 
prevalence of these relations is so universal through- 
out nature, that there is no group of beings, however 
small, which does not present them. Nay, we question 
not that every individual species has its analogies, 
as it certainly must have its affinities. In a future 
volume we propose to enquire more particularly into 
these relations, and to bring forward such instances 
of their prevalence, as to sanction the hypothesis 
that they are uniform, constant, and universal in 
every part of the animal creation. In regard to 
affinities, indeed, this truth is self-evident; because, 
whatever forms part of a series, must of necessity 
have affinities, and these must be of different de- 
grees. But,in regard to analogy, the case is differ- 
ent, and calls for a much more extended enquiry. 
On the present occasion, however, we shall merely 
consider those arguments which may be used, @ 
priori, in favour of the supposition that analogies 
are, in the most comprehensive sense of the word, 
universal; and that they consequently assume an 
importance of the highest order when applied to 
illustrate, and to confirm, any theory on the vari- 
ation of animal structure. 
Si 
