FRANCIS WII.LUGHBY. 
33 
are intimately connected by structure, habits, and 
economy : both fly nearly in the same manner, 
and both live upon insects captured in the same 
way ; but the goatsucker has also the relation of 
analogy to the bats; by flying at the same hour 
of the day, and by feeding in the same manner. 
The natural system must state these varied rela- 
tions and resemblances, and prove that they suc- 
ceed each other in a uniform progression, because 
it has been repeatedly demonstrated that the 
contents of oue circular group represent the con- 
tents of another circular group. If, however, by 
the natural system we are to understand a com- 
plete development of all the properties and 
relations of animated beings, the functions they 
are intended to perform, the principles upon 
which their forms have been regulated, their 
indisputable affinities among themselves, and 
their innumerable analogies to all others, then 
the natural system is a pinnacle of knowledge to 
which finite beings can obviously never reach. 
The system, therefore, which develops principles 
of the widest application, and brings the elements, 
if we may so term them, of natural classification 
into the narrowest compass, is that which 
obviously makes the nearest approach to nature, 
and therefore deserves to be distinguished par 
excellence as the natural system.”* Several 
individuals are named as having proposed the 
* Svvainson, Preliminary Lecture, and Treatise on the 
Geography and Classification of Animals. 
C 
