eS 
Natural History of the United States. 321 
Arr, XX VIII.—Agassiz’s Contributions to the Natural History of 
the United States. 
(Concluded from p. 216.) 
ON the subject of classification, Professor A gassiz has thought 
profoundly and brought out many original views. Regarding 
the Author of nature as the author of the system of classifica- 
tion in nature, and believing that the various subdivisions stand 
in profound and orderly relations to one another, eminently be- 
fitting kingdoms under’a vast comprehensive plan, he has sought 
to discover the philosophical significance of these subdivisions— 
the Branches, Classes, Orders, Families, Genera, Species—in or- 
der that the terms may no longer be mere arbitrary symbols in 
| 
“ct expression of the plan in the kingdoms of life. 
ws : tion, Professor Agassiz holds as before stated, that they have 
 # real although ideal existence, and that the groups are more 
Other in range or comprehensiveness, than like the larger and 
r Th 
=) hav ‘ 
: a. in science. Reptiles do not approximate to Fishes 
fough the higher families among the Fishes; nor Monkeys to 
the a ene Cee : eci each type. 
Pproximations are through inferior species 1 eacl 
There are her = e than among the sys- 
m. . - . 
© enter now upon the views presented with relation to the 
Tue use of th ders, Families, Genera 
, e te B hes, Classes, Orders, Ka ’ 
pecies, sinless ine% summary of the whole, from page 
fs 
. 
°OND SERIES, Vou XXV, No. 75.—MAY, 1858. 
41 
