1 1 64 The System of Nature. 



sider it the test of a natural system that structural similarity should be indicated by 

 a corresponding propinquity in situation." — p. 4. 



Mr. Newman then proposes a remedy for the imperfections insepa- 

 rable from every linear system. 



" Every animal or group of animals being structurally similar in an equal degree 

 to several other animals or groups of animals, such similarity in one to several can 

 only be expressed by so approximating all, that each shall approach its like. As a fa- 

 miliar illustration of my meaning, I adduce the four marked groups of vertebrated 

 animals: 1. Placental viviparous animals; 2. Birds; 3. Reptiles; 4. Fishes: no 

 naturalist of any standing will question the propriety — in fine the truth of these divi- 

 sions : I do not say that no naturalist will plead the existence of other groups which 

 may be placed on an equal footing with these, but that none will attempt to maintain 

 that these are not signally natural and signally distinct. In one of these groups — the 

 placental animals — we find a bat, an ant-eater, and a dolphin, and these respectively 

 structurally resemble a bird, a reptile, and a fish. It appears to me that this structu- 

 ral resemblance can only be shown by placing the placental animals in the centre, and 

 the others around them." — p. 7. 



Carrying out these views, our author places man — on account of 

 his superior organization, and on other considerations — in the centre 

 of animated beings ; and around him, their model and type, he places 

 three other groups, the monkeys, the lemurs and the sloths. These, 

 united to man, constitute a normal group (Manupedina), nearly cor- 

 responding to the Primates of Linneus : this group is surrounded by 

 six others, comprising (with the Manupedina) the whole of the pla- 

 cental animals. The six surrounding groups are, three subnormal 

 (Ferina, Glirina and Belluina), and three abnormal (Vespertilionina, 

 Brutina and Cetina), the latter alternating with and exterior to the 

 former, and serving to connect the placental with the implacental or 

 oviparous animals. These are, in their turn, ranged around the pla- 

 cental animals, forming one large assemblage called Vertebrata ; and 

 so on, until we arrive at the extreme limits of animal organization : 

 each group being subdivided on the same plan, namely, the normal 

 or most perfect in the centre, and the others around ; each being pla- 

 ced nearest to that which it most resembles : so that every group is 

 in fact a miniature representation of the entire system. In order to 

 illustrate this concentrical arrangement, a Map of the Animal King- 

 dom is given, in which a series of concentric circles is made to repre- 

 sent the gradations above described. Thus, the inner circle contains 

 man, a larger circle the Manupedina, a still larger the Vertebrata, and 

 the exterior circle contains the Animal Kingdom. 



" Beginning with man as a centre, I have added the various groups of animals 

 uround him in a series of rings : these rings amount to eight in number, besides the 



