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6 * "| - @INTRODUCTION. % 
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facters, which is itself derived from that of the conditions of 
existence. . The parts of a being possessing a mutual adapta- 
tion, some traits of character exclude others, while on the 
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contrary, there are others that require them. When, there- 
fore, we perceive such or such traitsin a being, we can caleu- 
late before hand those that co-exist in it, or those that are 
incompatible with them. ‘The parts, the properties, or the 
traits of conformation, which have the greatest number of 
‘these relations of incompatibility or of co-existence with others, 
or, in other words, that exercise the most marked influence 
upon the whole of the being, are called the important charae- 
ters, dominating characters; the others are the sielong ) ioe 
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characters, all varying in degree. 
This influence of characters is sometimes determined ration- 
ally, by the consideration of the nature of the organ. When 
this is impracticable, we have recourse to simple observations 
and a sure mark by which we may recognise the important 
characters, and one which is drawn from their own nature, is 
their superior constancy, and that in a long series of differént_ 
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beings, approximated according to their degrees of similitude, 
these characters’ are the last to vary. That they should be 
preferred for distinguishing the great divisions, and that ‘in 
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proportion as we descend to the inferior subdivisions, we can ~ 
also descend to subordinate and variable characters, is a rule 
resulting equally from their influence and constancy. , 
There can be but one perfect method, which is the natural 
method. We thus name an arrangement in which beings of the 
same genus are placed nearer to each other than to those of the 
other genera; the genera of the samevorder nearer than those 
of the other orders, &c. &c. This method is the zdeal to 
which natural history should tend; for it is evident that if we 
ean reach it, we shall have the exact and complete expression 
of all nature. _ Infact, each being is determined by its resem- 
blance to others, and difference from them; and all these rela- 
tions would be fully given by the arrangement in question. 
In a word, the natural method would be the whole science, 
and every step towards it tends to advance the science to per-: 
fection. BON of 
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