13 



we have to treat), we should not forget that there are 

 other questions, likewise, which ought to occupy our 

 attention in, at any rate, an almost equal degree, — as 

 being of eminent significance in guiding us to a correct 

 interpretation of the phsenomena with which we have to 

 deal. Such are, more especially, similitudes and ana- 

 logies, in their widest sense, — which are too often 

 neglected, even by those who admit the necessity of 

 recognizing them where they may be shown to exist. 

 Lord Bacon, in referring to a similar tendency amongst 

 a certain section of the naturalists of his day, remarks 

 (though perhaps his love of analogies may have led him 

 to somewhat overrate their importance) : " Up to this 

 time the industry of men has been great, and very curi- 

 ous in marking the variety of things, and explaining the 

 accurate differences of animals, herbs, and fossUs, — the 

 chief part of which are the mere sport of Nature, rather 

 than serious and of use toward the sciences. Such 

 things tend to our enjoyment, and sometimes to even 

 practical use; but little or nothing towards an insight 

 into Nature. And so our labour is to be turned to in- 

 quiry into, and notice of, similitudes and analogies, both 

 in the whole and in the parts of things : for these are 

 they which unite Nature, and begia to establish 



* " Magna enim hucusque atque adeo curiosa fuit hominum in- 

 dustria, in notanda rerum varietate, atque explicandis accuratis 

 animalium, herbarum, et fossilium differentiis ; quanim plerseque 

 magis sunt lusus naturse, quam seriiE alicujus utilitatis versus 



