CLASSIFICATION IN RELATION TO ORGANISiSD BEINGS. 



4-Une Soman. No. XXX. — Snellen. 



31 



8-?wje Boman. No. XL. — Snellen. 



SOME THOUGHTS ON CLASSIFICATION IN RELATION 

 TO ORGANISED BEINGS. 



BY REV. WILLIAM HINCKS, F.L.S., ETC., 



I propose in these few remarks first to touch upon the general 

 principles of all classification and then to oiFer some observations on 

 the classification of organised beings, with a view to a truly natural 

 and instructive method. 



Since classification consists in physically or mentally putting to- 

 gether objects or subjects of thought in groups according to observed 

 resemblances, it seems desirable to inquire in the first place what is 

 the real meaning of the terms resemblance, similarity, likeness. It 

 is obvious enough that these terms are not applicable to single sensa- 

 tions or simple ideas. If a single sensation or a simple idea recur in 

 differing circumstances of time or place it is recognised as being the 

 same which had formerly occurred. What we affirm of it is not 

 resemblance, but identity, and every other distinct sensation or idea 

 is different from it. The states of mind being simple and indivisible. 



