10 INTRODUCTION, 



by which they are demonstrated, or, when this fails, 

 simple observation will suffice for the purpose, as 

 the important characters may be generally known by 

 their constancy, and in a series of observations upon 

 a succession of various individual objects of nature, 

 arranged according to a greater or less degree of 

 similitude to some common given type, these import- 

 ant characters will ever be found to be the last 

 that vary. Hence they are properly selected to 

 distinguish the grand divisions, while the subordi- 

 nate characters are employed with equal benefit to 

 mark the subdivisions. There can be but one ra- 

 tional mode of forming an artificial system, and that 

 will be more perfect in proportion as it approxi- 

 mates more nearly to the system of nature ; here is 

 the point of perfection to which the former should 

 be directed; for it is evident, that if it once attained 

 to this, it would exhibit compendiously a perfect 

 impression of its glorious prototype. 



Life is the most important of all the peculiarities 

 of created being, and of all the characters the most 

 elevated. It is therefore not surprising, that in all 

 ages it has j formed the first and most general of 

 the principles of distinction and arrangement, and 

 that the works of nature have always been sepa- 

 rated into two immense divisions, that of animated, 

 and that of inanimate, beings. 



