2 THE ELEMENTS 



In common language, the System 

 of Nature has been divided into three 

 kingdoms, viz. the Animal, Vegetable, 

 and Mineral. That the young stu- 

 dent may more easily understand 

 the meaning of the classes, orders, 

 &c. into which these three kingdoms 

 are divided, we shall compare 



A Class to an Army ; 



An Order to a Regiment; 



A Genus to a Company ; 



And a Species to a Soldier. 



When we find a natural body, we 

 must first refer it to a class in the 

 system of Nature, then to an order, 

 next to a genus, and then we endea- 

 vour to ascertain its species. 



All natural bodies, which agree 

 in every particular, or essential pro- 

 perty, are considered of the same 

 species ; for example, all dogs are 

 specifically the same, but the diffe- 

 rence between the hyena, wolf, fox, 

 (though of the same genus as the dog 

 Canis of Linne) and the pointer and 



