CLASSIFICATION 213 



genera on the right hand, which diverged from a com- 

 mon parent at the fifth stage of descent. These five 

 genera have also much in common, though less than 

 when grouped in sub-families; and they form a familv 

 distinct from that containing the three genera still further 

 to the right hand, which diverged at an earlier period. 

 And all these genera, descended from (A), form an order 

 distinct from the genera descended from (I). So that we 

 here have many species descended from a single progeni- 

 tor grouped into genera; and the genera into sub-families, 

 families, and orders, all under one great class. The 

 grand fact of the natural subordination of organic beings 

 in groups under groups, which, from its familiarity, does 

 not always sufficiently strike us, is in my judgment thus 

 explained. No doubt organic beings, like all other ob- 

 jects, can be classed in many ways, either artificially by 

 single characters, or more naturally by a number of char- 

 acters. We know, for instance, that minerals and the 

 elemental substances can be thus arranged. In this case 

 there is of course no relation to genealogical succession, 

 and no cause can at present be assigned for their falling 

 into groups. But with organic beings the case is dif- 

 ferent, and the view above given accords with their nat- 

 ural arrangement in group under group; and no other 

 explanation has ever been attempted. 



Naturalists, as we have seen, try to arrange tae spe- 

 cies, genera, and families in each class on what is called 

 the Natural System. But what is meant by this system? 

 Some authors look at it merely as a scheme for arranging 

 together those living objects which are most alike, and for 

 separating those which are most unlike; or as an artificial 

 method of enunciating, as briefly as possible, general 



