Ch. XVIIL] CLASSIFICA TION. 107 
459. Even the lower grade of animals have this faculty of 
selecting by natural characters, nutritious substances, and avoid- 
ing noxious ones; thus we see the apparently unconscious 
brutes luxuriating in the rich pastures prepared for them by a 
benevolent Creator, cautiously passing by the poisonous weed, 
directed by the curious instinct given them by this same A 
mighty Benefactor. 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
Natural Families 
— 450. A natural family is composed of several genera of 
plants which have some common marks of resemblance, and its 
name is usually founded upon this general character; as La- 
biate and Cruciform, which are derived from the form of the 
corollas; Umbellate and Corymbiferous, from the inflores- 
cence ; Leguminous, from the nature of the fruit. 
451. Natural families resemble artificial orders in being com- 
osed of genera, but the principles on which the genera are 
rought together, differ widely in the two cases. 
452. In many natural families, the classification is such as 
persons who have never studied botany, might make ; thus, dill, 
fennel, caraway, &c., belong to the wmbellate family, on ac- 
count of the form in which the little stakes, bearing the flower, 
and afterwards the seed, branch out from one common centre, 
like the sticks of an umbrella; this general resemblance is ob- 
served by all, and it seems very natural to class such plants 
together. 
453. But in the artificial orders, genera which may be very 
unlike in other respects, are brought together from the single 
circumstance of their having the same number of stamens and 
pistils. Thus, in the first order of the 8th class, we have the 
Tulip and the Burlish, the Lily of the valley and the Sweet- 
flag. In the second order of the 5th class, we have the Beet 
aud the Klm. You wjll at once perceive the want of resem- 
449. Are animals capable of distinguishing plants by their natural 
characters 2 
450. What composes a natural family of Plants, and on what is its 
name often founded 2 
451. How do families resemble artificial orders? 
452. Could a person ignorant of botany form a classification of 
plants into natural families ? 
453. How are genera brought together in the artificia! orders ? 
