NATURAL SYSTEMS. MACLEAY. 203 



as belonging to the natural system. We shall now 

 copy his diagram, or table of the animal kingdom, and 

 then endeavour, with this help, to explain the system 

 more in detail. 



(259-) We must, in the first instance, look to the 

 above tabular disposition of all animals, as forming them- 

 selves collectively into one great circle, which circle 

 touches or blends into another, composed of plants, by 

 means of the " least organised beings of the vegetable 

 kingdom." Next we are to look to the larger component 

 parts of this great circular assemblage. We find it, in 

 accordance with the third proposition, to exhibit five 

 great circles, composed of the MOLLUSCA, or shell-fish ; 

 ACRITA, or polypes ; RADIATA, or star- fish ; ANNULOSA, 

 or insects ; and VERTEBRATA, or vertebrated animals ; 

 each passing or blending into each other, by means of 

 five other groups of animals, much smaller, indeed, in 

 their extent, but forming so many connecting or osculant 

 circles. The number, therefore, as many erroneously 

 suppose, is not five, but ten. This is quite obvious ; 



