SYSTEM OF NATURE. 
7 
upwards to the grand grouping of organized matter into 
kingdoms containing myriads of such species ; to define 
accurately major and minor divisions; to assign to each 
division and to each individual its appropriate place in 
an enduring system; is a task in all probability far be¬ 
yond the mental powers entrusted to us in this sublunary 
state of existence. Still may we not be allowed to pencil, 
with trembling hand, a dim and dubious outline ? — to 
suggest whether there be not evidences of such and such 
designs ? Believing that an attempt of this kind is not only 
allowable, but, if conducted in the right spirit, praisewor¬ 
thy, T feel no hesitation in obtruding my views on the notice 
of naturalists, at the same time, should they prove cor¬ 
rect, most distinctly disavowing any idea of merit ; for if 
either of the combinations proposed be the result of hu¬ 
man ingenuity, it can form no portion of that system of 
creation called into being by the fiat of Omnipotence. 
My first idea on this, subject, confirmed and supported 
by each new fact that conies to my knowledge, may be 
thus defined : — 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 familiar il¬ 
lustration 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 divisions : I do not say that no natu¬ 
ralist 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 
