NATURAL HISTORY. INTRODU TORY REMARKS. 3 



animals are not at all alike. Therefore, the animals of a class 

 have been divided into several orders, including all those which 

 have certain resemblances in common, but still somewhat dis- 

 tant. Lastly, in each order, those animals which have a 

 great resemblance, though different from each other, have been 

 put together to form, what is called a Jamily. Thus, the lion, 

 tiger, and panther, are all very like a cat, and are placed 

 in the same family. On the other hand, the family of cats 

 feeds on flesh like the fox and wolf. The family of cats, 

 and that which contains the fox and wolf, will both be included 

 in the order Carnivora. 



Each class, either of animals or plants, is thus divided into 

 orders and families, in such a manner that all the beings which 

 inhabit the earth are always arranged side by side v ith those 

 that most resemble them. 



Now suppose we see an animal and wish to know its history ; 

 we shall immediately be able to find it in a book which con- 

 tains the system of classification. Here, for instance, is a 

 pole cat ; we know immediately where we ought to look for it ; 

 it is covered with hair ; it produces young which the female 

 nourishes; we already know that it belongs to the class of 

 mammals ; it lives on flesh, which shows us that it will be 

 placed in the order Carnivora ; and we shall soon see that it 

 belongs to a family including the marten, the martlet, the 

 ferret, and the weasel, all which have a long body, short legs, 

 live in holes, and like flesh as much as the cats. We shall 

 notice in succession the different classes, and the principal 

 orders or families of animals. 



Plants have likewise been divided into classes and families. 

 These also are always composed of plants which have a great 

 common resemblance, but this resemblance is not always, as in 

 the families of animals, easily recognisable. It is generally 

 limited to the flower and fruit. 



We shall mention only the principal families, and specify 

 the principal plants which ought to be known. 



B 2 



