IXSESSORIAL ORDER. ANAI-OCIES. 345 
forward the remoteness of some of the analogies we have 
already instanced, as a reason for not believing in 
their universality ! If, as every one knows, there are 
different degrees of affinity in the animal kingdom, it 
follows as a necessary consequence of this fact (which 
no one will ever dream of denying), that there inust he 
corresponding differences in the degrees of analogy. 
The analogy between the swan and the ostrich is one 
degree, that between the ostrich and the giraffe is 
another, while the analogy betrveen the bee and the 
weaving birds (^Ploceuua;') is another ; and yet this 
latter, however remote, or liowever incomprehensible to 
amateur naturalists, is founded on as sure and on as 
demonstrable evidence as the analogy of the hawk to 
the shrike, or eagle to the lion. Such persons seem to 
forget that remote analogies can only he made out, or 
in fact understood, by tracing them through the various 
groups which intervene between those that arc com- 
pared. It is like a man looking to the last and the 
first link of a graduated chain ; and because these links 
differ so widely in size, stoutly maintaining that they 
cannot possibly belong to the same series; although, 
when he sees the intermediate portion, he is obliged to 
confess his error. To urge, therefore, that, — because of 
their remoteness, some analogies are too obscure to he 
easily understood, — the theory itself is objectionable, is 
to say that affinities must not be believed, because they 
do not all possess the same degree of resemblance. 
(2SC.) The analogies of the insessorial tribes with 
the orders of quadrupeds, as shown in the foregoing 
table, will fully illustrate the principle maintained in the 
last paragraph. To a naturalist, unacquainted with the 
details of both classes, they will appear not only remote, 
hut fanciful. What can more clearly show the in- 
fatuation of theory,” it may be argued, “ when it is 
supported by the assertion, that a woodpecker is analo- 
gous to a cow ! ” Such reasoning, addressed to ordinary 
persons, wall be quite sufficient to settle the question ; 
and yet, upon looking a little farther into the matter. 
