GENUS. I

n biological nomenclature, when several species resemble each other so distinctly that their general characters indicate relationship, they are grouped together in a G. Similar genera are grouped together to form a family. Systematic cla ification is as natural as po ible, but it is often difficult to know where to draw the line, but in all cases the characters which distinguish one G. from another must be greater than those distinguishing the species of the genera. The family Ranunculacese is made up Of many genera, of which Ranunculus, Clematis, Aquilegia, and Thalictrum are a few examples. They belong to one family, but differ from one another in sufficiently characteristic details, so that each may constitute a G. They are further subdivided into species; thus we have Ranunculus aquatilis, the water buttercup; &. ficaria, the le er celandine; &. acris, the common buttercup, etc.