..4.] A walk through the Nat. History Museum at Florence. 493 
insects, and some of their products appear, among which we notice 
the remarkable web of the Zinea granella, or granary moth, which 
most resembles a sheet of white tissue paper, two feet high and 
one foot in width. Enormous crustaceans, spiders, &c., may next 
be seen, all brought so near to the observer that he can study 
them readily. We soon find that we are following a “near ar- 
rangement, a system of classification which modern research and 
wider philosophy have shown is but an imperfect illustration of 
the thought of the Creator. 
Many learned naturalists have labored at the construction of 
systems of classification, but each succeeding scheme has given 
way before increasing knowledge of the relations of groups. 
Whether we Suppose relations represented in a linear arrange- 
ment or in a circular one, in which circle touches circle within cir- 
cle, or asa sphere in which is contained a multitude of minor 
spheres representing classes, groups or genera touching on many 
sides —all have proved artificial, all have failed to reflect the facts of 
nature, as later insight has proved them to be mutually related. 
The ey to the cause of the multiplex relations of animal forms 
not having been found, every effort to present them aright could 
but prove unsuccessful. Recent discoveries in embryology and 
Paleontology, having thrown a flood of light upon the intrica- 
i of this question, by their wonderful illustration of the doc- 
trine of development arrested and accelerated; the key to a correct 
system of classification in the vegetable and animal world, it is 
believed has at length been placed in our hands. 
The Study of living forms alone cannot guide us to the con- 
ction of a system that shall explain the relations of genera in 
ote and vegetable worlds. As the relation between the 
ily foh and vormen OF this generation can only be satistacto- 
ses : 7 rated by tracing their respective genealogies back to 
$ mmon ancestry, from which they have derived their simi- 
divé of Physique, physiognomy or mental traits, and their minor 
ec: So we must discover and study the originals which 
| to the multiform representatives of ages of development 
rom, as found in the genera and families in the world of 
mie lias arge. Palzeontology, therefore, becomes a guide a 
the deter mination of the order of successive forms through ag 
hahaa, €ssors of the living plants and animals have passed. i 
profound acquaintance with those ancient forms, and with 
