206 FIRST PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL CLASSIFICATION. 
similar way ; particularly the American redstart (Seto- 
phaga ruticilla) and the common domestic duck. * 
(359.) Our exposition of the natural system must 
here terminate. We have endeavoured to treat the sub- 
ject with that simplicity and clearness suited to an ele- 
mentary work of this nature, but we foresee that many 
will consider it too abstruse for general application: 
this, indeed, must be granted; for although the arrange- 
ment of nature, as we have seen, can be reduced to the 
most simple and universal principles, the right appli- 
cation of these principles, amid the infinite diversity of 
‘her productions, can only result from study and expe=— 
rience. A knowledge of particulars as well as of generals, 
is equally essential to the discovery of a natural assem- 
blage of beings, or, to speak technically, analysis and 
synthesis must walk handin hand. Let not_the student, 
however, be discouraged ; for although there is no royal 
road to this or to any other science, his path, we trust, has 
been smoothed, he is in possession of that knowledge 
which has been the progressive growth of ages, and many 
of the stumbling-blocks, which heretofore impeded his 
way, are removed. Much has been done, but incalculably 
more remains for future discovery ; new and untrodden 
regions lie before him: let him become qualified for 
their investigation : remembering that the boundaries of 
science are nowhere fixed, like the pillars of Hercules, 
nor inscribed with a ne plus ultra. 
(360.) To those who are already distinguished as 
profound observers of nature, we shall now, in conclu- 
sion, address a few remarks on questions of a somewhat 
intricate nature. We have elsewhere expressed an 
opinion}, that the doctrine of analogical representation, 
at that period, was most imperfectly developed ; subse- 
quent attention, nevertheless, has thrown much light 
upon this subject. We now believe that the true analogies 
of agroup, when compared with the higher assemblages 
of which it forms a part, can only be detected when the 
typical division of one is placed opposite to the typical 
* Journal of the Royal Institution, new series, No. iv. p. 11. 
+ North. Zool. vol. ii. p. 199. * 
= 
