

INTRODUCTION. 



which looks like the modern distinction 

 between genus and species. And this ap- 

 pearance is not altogether a false one. 

 However necessary it may be to distin- 

 guish between scientific habits of thought 

 and those which are spontaneous and un- 

 trained, we may yet acknowledge some 

 rudimentary elements in common between 

 them. We can plainly enough discern 

 two motives in the old names, one leading 

 to specific the other to generic observation. 

 There was the medicinal motive and there 

 was the contemplation of nature, the for- 

 mer conscious and avowed, the latter im- 

 plicit and instinctive. In most cases the 

 plant was considered solely for its healing 

 virtues ; therefore an affectionate individual 

 acquaintance was sought, while a certain 

 antipathy was excited against plants that 

 resembled but were not the true plant. 

 For this temper of mind the plants in 

 honour had names and were the right 

 ones ; any other that looked like them 

 were merely the wrong sort and spurious. 

 This was the prevalent habit ; and it pro- 

 moted towards those plants which were 



