52

Logic II 45

{Section title: Categories of Natural Classification.}

Louis Agassiz thought that he was able to characterize in
general terms the different categories of classes which
zoologists talk of. That is, he undertook to say what sort of
characters distingush branches from branches, classes from
classes, orders from orders, families from families, genera
from genera, and species from species. His general classification
of animals has passed away; and few naturalists attach any much
importance to his characterizations of the categories. Yet they
are the outcome of his deep study, and it is a merit of them that
there is they involve no attempt to hard abstract accuracy of statement.
How can he have been so long immersed in the study of nature
without some truth sticking to him? I will just set down his
vague definitions and allow myself to be vaguely influenced
by them, so far as I find anything in the facts that answers to
his descriptions. Although I am an ignoramus in biology, I
ought by this time to recognize metaphysics when I meet
with it; and it is apparent to me that [they?] those biologists