62 NATURAL HISTORY. 



of. I have no doubt that a great many of ycu have read or heard that Professor Owen, 

 the great anatomist, was enabled to stale the form and structure of an extinct bird of 

 New Zealand, and even the kind of food it used, by examining some of the bones that 



were brought to England. We know he was 

 correct, because since he examined the bones, 

 other parts have been discovered, which verify his 

 statements. 



A natural system should have such a thoroughly 

 scientific basis, that it should connect all the links 

 in the chain of relationship. We all know by 

 observation that there is a scale in nature, and 

 that each kingdom gradually merges into, or is 

 blended with, the other. The difficulty is, there- 

 fore, to know where we are to draw the line of 

 demarcation ; hence the complexity of natural 

 Fig. 32.* systems. It may be remarked that there are 



several Natural Systems, and that the pupil may request to be informed which is the best. 

 GRANDFATHER WHITEHEAD considers the best Natural System to be that which 

 approaches nearest to Nature's own plan, and exhibits a unity of classification ; he has 

 explained the difference between a natural and an artificial system in this Catechism. 



To become a good Naturalist, it is necessary to observe things accurately and quickly, 

 so as to be able to distinguish differences in the structure of animals almost at a glance. 

 This will be acquired by practice; and I would advise my younger pupils to acquire 

 the habit of observing all things closely and quickly, but not slovenly. Let them place 

 a number of specimens of birds before them, such as swallows, swifts, sparrows, wood- 

 peckers, &c., and endeavour to find out and describe the peculiarities of each, how 

 they differ, and how they may each be distinguished ; or let them examine the skeletons 

 of a dozen quadrupeds, and exercise their minds in discriminating between one genug 

 and another. 



It is well to learn the habits and economy of animals, and make notes upon them 

 in a book arranged alphabetically ; the number of young they have, or eggs they lay; 

 the changes the young undergo ; giving examples of longevity, temper, &c. ; food, how 

 they capture their prey, and all interesting traits. Let the young read White's Natural 

 History of Selborne, and endeavour to form such another history of the place they reside 

 in. In after years, such a book will afford them many hours of amusement and 

 instruction. 



Cuvier has been blamed for arranging his animal kingdom upon anatomical principles, 

 and severe remarks have been made upon his system for that reason. More than one 

 author censures him for giving anatomical descriptions of the animals. Is it more 

 difficult for a naturalist to study anatomy than an artist? Which is the more necessary 

 that the artist or the naturalist should make it their study ? 



The insect tribes THE INSECTA form the largest portion of the animal kingdom, 

 having nearly 600,000 species ; and yet, by attending to the principles of classification, 

 naturalists have not any difficulty in assigning the proper place to each of them. We 



* Fig. 32. Side and front view of the vertebra of a salmon, a, the body; b, b, the processes ; 

 c, vertebral canal. 



