1S2 STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



enquiries which concern the natural history of an 

 animal ; namely, its relation to other beings. The 

 very dissimilar forms which nature has given to 

 most of the great divisions of the animal world are 

 so striking in themselves, that the more general re- 

 lationships are obvious to common observers. Thus, 

 a quadruped, a bird, a fish, or an insect, is known, 

 in ordinary cases, at first sight. Even if we de- 

 scend to more particulars, and proceed to assort 

 quadrupeds, for instance, into separate divisions, 

 we see plainly that a lion has no affinity with an ox, 

 or a monkey with a mouse, further than, as being 

 quadrupeds, they have a greater relation to each 

 other than with birds, fishes, or insects. Relations, 

 therefore, are either general or particular ; but both 

 terms are used comparatively. Thus we may say 

 that the elephant is related to the ox, by being in 

 the same natural order : but this relation, compara- 

 tively speaking, is only general ; because, between 

 these two quadrupeds, other forms or species inter- 

 vene, which show a more particular resemblance to 

 one or to the other. Hence we see that, as there are 

 different degrees of relationships, it becomes neces- 

 sary to give a more precise analysis of the term, 

 and to ascertain in what manner these different 

 degrees of relationship can be defined. 



(124.) Relations or resemblances, in the ordinary 

 acceptation of the words, have long been considered 

 as of two kinds, expressed by the terms analogy and 

 affinity. By the first, we understand an external re- 

 semblance or similitude to. another object, which is 

 nevertheless different in its form, structure, habits, 

 or some other important circumstance : here the re- 



