xlviii THE QUINARY SYSTEM. 
<v 
them, though they are neither so wild nor mischievous as his own 
most absurd analogies, apparently derived from the planetary 
vortices of Des Cartes, whereby he describes an animal, man for 
instance, as a sort of vortex or focus {especes de foyers) into which 
dead substances are successively carried by a whirling motion, 
{ynouvement de tourhillon,) and combined in various ways into 
living existence.* This is what Leibnitz would have called un 
Cartesianisme outre^ as he did the similar atheistic system of 
Spinoza. It appears very clearly, that a similar fanciful analogy 
with the motions of the heavenly bodies, which led the Baron to 
talk such utter nonsense, suggested the Quinary circles. ‘‘ There 
is incontestible evidence,” says Mr. Swainson, “ to prove, that 
the same system which is found to govern the heavenly bodies — a 
system plainly circular, is typically represented on earth, and is 
that upon which the whole of organized matter has originally been 
planned. * * * * Thus, whether our attention be directed to the 
animal or vegetable kingdom, to the terrestrial or the celestial 
world, one plan alone is discernible ; and that itself is typical of 
Eternity.” It is well known that the Ancients represented 
Eternity under the form of a circular serpent; the tail passing 
into the mouth.” f As all this is obviously a mere poetic fancy, 
unproved and improbable, I cannot surely be called upon to refute 
it by argument. 
‘‘ In allusion,” says Mr. Westwood, ‘To the controversy between 
MM. G. St. Hilaire and Cuvier, respecting a general typical 
formation of all animals, ******* our own naturalist, Mr. Mac 
Leay, so far coincides with the opinions of the former, as to 
consider that the modifications of a typical structure may be 
traced through numerous objects of very different appearance ; 
but he considers that nature has adopted tico distinct plans, that 
the vertebrate and ammlose animals respectively represent the 
perfection of each of those plans, and that all other animals may 
be regarded as formed upon one or other of them.”J 
If this were all, however, those who admire the romance of 
science, might be left quietly to enjoy their dreams ; but when 
* Cuvier, Lecons d’Anat. Comp. i. 5, 6. 
f Winter’s Wreath for 1828, p. 295 — 7. 
I Mag. of Nat. Hist. iv. 82, and Horse Entomol. pt. ii. p. 214. 
