192 My. H. E. Strickland on the Natural System 
method here proposed, that it is subversive of the arrange- 
ments now in use, No /inear arrangement, whether adopted 
in a museum, a catalogue, or a descriptive work, ever can ex- 
press the true succession of affinities: such an arrangement, | 
therefore, is necessarily in great measure artificial, and, if 
sanctioned by custom, may still be adhered to. ‘The true or- 
der of affinities can only be exhibited (if at all) by a pictorial 
representation on a suzface, and the time may come when our 
works on natural history may all be illustrated by a series of 
maps on the plan of those rude sketches which are here ex- 
hibited. 
Those symmetrical systems which are here combated are 
the natural result of that instinctive love of order which is in- 
nate in man, and which produces all the noblest works of art. 
It would doubtless have been more convenient for the arrange- 
ment of our museums, and more agreeable to our love of or- 
der, if the groups of organized beings had resolved themselves 
into a symmetrical plan ; but if such is not the case, we must 
not sacrifice truth to convenience. My object in communi- 
cating these remarks will be gained if they induce naturalists 
to study Nature simply as she exists,—to follow her through 
the wild luxuriance of her ramifications, instead of pruning 
and distorting the tree of organic affinities into the formal 
symmetry of a clipped yew-tree. 
It is needless to observe, that although the above remarks 
have been applied chiefly to the animal kingdom, yet that the 
principles here announced, if true at all, may be applied with 
equal correctness to botanical as to zoological systems. 
APPENDIX. 
In Mr. Swainson’s ‘ Classification of Birds,’ the Procrus- 
tean process is effected in five different ways. 1. By trans- 
ferring the members of redundant groups to fill the blanks in 
those which are deficient. Examples: Haliaétus is transferred 
from Aquilinz, and made a subgenus of Astur ; Myophonus is 
transferred from Merulinz to Myotherine; Cinclosoma from 
Turdide, and made a subgenus of Grallina; Irena from Di- 
crurine, and made a subgenus of Oriolus; Queruline from 
Ampelide to Muscicapidz ; Coracinze from Ampelidze to Cor- 
vide ; Carduelis and Linaria are transferred from Fringillinz 
to Coccothraustine ; Scythrops from Cuculide to Rhamphas- 
tide; Tichodroma from Sittine to Troglodytine ; Orthonysx 
from Crateropodine (where it comes next Psophodes) to Bu- 
phaginz ; Hematopus from Charadriade to Ardeadee ; Eury- 
pyga from Ardeadee to Scolopacide ; Phaéton from Pelecanidze 
to Laride ; and Dromas from Charadriade to Laride. 
