449 



their species. Hence the organs of their mouth lead to 

 no natural distinctions, and the characters deduced there- 

 from prove, moreover, so difficult, that it is notorious they 

 could not generally be applied to practice by Fabricius 

 himself, he having, in the common course of his studies, 

 been chiefly regulated by the external appearance of the 

 insects he described. This external appearance depend- 

 ing on the form and texture of their wings, and the shape 

 of their own peculiar organs, the antennce, affords in fact 

 the easiest, as well as the most natural, clue to their ar- 

 rangement and discrimination. 



As we presume to criticize the systematic errors of 

 great practical observers, it cannot but occur to our recol- 

 lection how very few persons have excelled in both these 

 departments. Ray, Linnaeus, and perhaps Tournefort, 

 may be allowed this distinction. We can scarcely add a 

 fourth name to this brief catalogue. The most excellent 

 practical botanists of the Linnsean school have been such 

 as hardly bestowed a thought on the framing of systems. 

 Such was the distinguished Solander, who rivalled his 

 preceptor in acuteness of discrimination, and even in pre- 

 cision and elegance of definition. Such is another emi- 

 nent man, more extensively conversant with plants, more 

 accurate in distinguishing, and more ready in recollecting 

 them, than almost any other person with whom we have 

 associated. Yet we have heard this great botanist declare, 

 that however he might confide in his own judgement with 

 regard to a species, or a genus of plants, he pretended to 

 form no opinion of classes and orders. Men of so much 

 experience know too much to be satisfied with their ac- 

 quirements, or to draw extensive conclusions from what 

 they think insufficient premises. Others, with a quarter 

 of their knowledge, find no difficulty in building systems, 

 and proceed with great alacrity, till they find themselves 

 encumbered with their own rubbish; happy if their doubts 

 and uncertainties will afford them a tolerable screen or 

 shelter ! But we here anticipate remarks, which will come 



VOL. II. 2 G 



