CLASSIFICATION. 311 



natural classification is that of forming the classes so 

 that the objects composing each may have the greatest 

 number of properties in common; this principle pre- 

 scribes that every such classification shall recognise 

 and adopt into itself all distinctions of Kind, which 

 exist among the objects it professes to classify. To 

 pass over any distinctions of Kind, and substitute de- 

 finite distinctions, which, however considerable they 

 may be, do not point to ulterior unknown differences, 

 would be to replace classes with more by classes 

 with fewer attributes in common; and would be sub- 

 versive of the Natural Method of Classification. 



Accordingly all natural arrangements, whether the 

 reality of the distinction of Kinds was felt or not by 

 their framers, have been led, by the mere pursuit of 

 their own proper end, to conform themselves to the 

 distinctions of Kind, so far as these had been ascer- 

 tained at the time. The Species of Plants are not 

 only real Kinds, but are probably*, all of them, real 

 lowest Kinds, or Infimse Species ; which if we were to 

 subdivide, as of course it is open to us to do, into 

 sub-classes, the subdivision would necessarily be 

 founded upon definite distinctions, not pointing (apart 

 from what may be known of their causes or effects) to 

 any difference beyond themselves. 



* I say probably, not certainly, because this is not the conside- 

 ration by which a botanist determines what shall or shall not be 

 admitted as a species. In natural history those objects belong to 

 the same species, which are, or consistently with experience might 

 have been, produced from the same stock. But this distinction in 

 most, and probably in all cases, happily accords with the other. 

 It seems to be a law of physiology, that animals and plants do 

 really, in the philosophical as well as the popular sense, propagate 

 their kind; transmitting to their descendants all the distinctions 

 of Kind (down to the most special or lowest Kind), which they 

 themselves possess. 



