INTRODUCTION. 



on rhetoric and logic. The great Milton, in his Latin 

 treatise on logic*, has discussed this subject, chiefly on the 

 authority of Aristotle and Cicero: his examples are only 

 accidentally from living beings ; and he even appears embar- 

 rassed to distinguish between the species and individuals ; for 

 he argues that, as form is admitted by Aristotle as a discri- 

 mination of the species, and every man differs in form from 

 another, so every man must form a distinct species. He 

 adds, that the lawyers allow man to be a genus, while indi- 

 viduals constitute the species j but he observes, that Ovid 

 divides the genus ANIMAL into Jive species: Stars, Birds, Beasts, 

 Fishes, and Men. So Cicero divides virtue into four species : 

 Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance. The pe- 

 dantry of this great poet is truly pisible 3 but thus it was 

 when logic was the art of talking nonsense according to a 

 fixed method. Yet it is from logic, as Werner and the other 

 German mineralogists allow, that the imaginary distinctions 

 of genus and species were admitted into mineralogy ! 



Dolomieu being sensible that the whole process depended 

 upon ascertaining the species, which if once admitted, the 

 genera, &c. would follow of course, has employed much 

 metaphysical reasoning in his usual prolix, confused, and 

 digressive style, to ascertain an imaginary species in mine- 

 ralogy. He ought to have begun by informing his readers, 

 that he was only discussing the word species, as used in 

 modern natural history, where, in that of animated nature, it 

 has become a useful distinction. But the ancient and clas- 

 sical senses may be learned from the commonest dictionariesf. 



* London, 1672, I2mo. cap. 27. 



f As for example that of Ainsworsh. " SPECIES, d. f. (a SPECIO.) (l.) A 

 form, figure, fashion, or shape. (2.) A sight, or object presented to the sight. 

 (3.) A likeness, or representation. (4.) An outward show, or appearance. 

 (5.) Colour or pretence. (6.) A vision or sight, a spectre. (7.) An image, 

 picture, or statue. (8.) An example, a specimen or instance. (9.) The quality 

 or nature of a thing. (10.) Also a particular sort, a kind of things under a 

 general head. (11.) Sight or view, (l 2.) All kinds of spice, a drug. (13.) 

 Corn or fruit. (14.) A piece of money. (15.) A garment, or apparel. (16.) 



