cuvier's classification. 53 



from the functions they discharge, and from 

 the mental habits which peculiarities of struc- 

 ture merely represent, embody, and subserve. 

 Although the resemblances which have been 

 seized upon for the purpose of grouping 

 together a certain number of animals into 

 Classes, or Families, or Orders, have been 

 for the most part resemblances arbitrarily 

 selected, and have borne no consistent refer- 

 ence to any one standard of comparison 

 throughout the creatures to be arranged, 

 yet those resemblances have not been so 

 arbitrary nor so fallacious . as to join 

 together in one common " Order" animals 

 separated from each other in powers and 

 habits by an impassable gulf. Of the eight 

 "Orders" (exclusive of Man) into which Cuvier 



