200 STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



jectionable, because, without the explanation already 

 given (129.), it would seem to imply a plurality of 

 natural systems ; whereas, in fact, there can be only 

 one. It is not to be supposed, however, that all the 

 laws of natural arrangement are to be developed at 

 once ; or that, amid the infinite diversity of resem- 

 blances which we see in the animal world, erroneous 

 combinations may not be formed, which will never- 

 theless wear the appearance of following nature , 

 Hence arises the necessity of discussing more at 

 large the nature of theories, and the considerations 

 by which they are to be verified. For our present 

 purpose, however, it is merely necessary to state, 

 that a natural system of classification aims at two 

 primary objects : first, the arrangement of all objects 

 according to the scale or series which they may be 

 supposed to hold in the order of nature ; and se- 

 condly, to discover, from such an arrangement, the 

 general principles which govern their variation, 

 their structure, and their habits. The first of these 

 objects is likewise aimed at by the mixed methods 

 of classification just noticed ; but the latter — that is, 

 the discovery of general laws, or of the fundamental 

 elements of the science — is the peculiar character- 

 istic of natural systems; because they, and they 

 alone, endeavour to solve the principles of those 

 harmonies and connections, which, reasoning from 

 analogy, we feel convinced must be regulated by 

 definite laws. 



