AKT OF DISTINGUISHING. 159

naturalists give of a horse, it 1s generally mentioned
that he has six cutting teeth in each jaw; because this
circumstance of the teeth has been found a very con-
venient one for characterizing large classes: but as it
is not absolutely necessary here, 1 have omitted it; a
definition bemg the more perfect the fewer particulars
you make use of, provided you can say with certainty
from those particulars,—The object so characterized
must be this, and no other whatever.

C. But, papa, if I had never seen a horse, I should
not know what kind of animal 1t was by this definition.

F. Let us hear, then, how you would give me an
idea of a horse.

O. I should say 1t was a fine, large, prancing creature,
with slender legs and an arched neck, and a sleek,
smooth skin, and a tail that sweeps the ground, and
that he snorts and neighs very loud, and tosses his
head, and runs as swift as the wind.

#, I think you learned some verses upon the horse
in your last lesson ? repeat them—

C’. “The wanton courser thus, with reins unbound,
Breaks from his stall, and beats the trembling ground ;
Pamper’d and proud, he seeks the wonted tides,

And laves, in height of blood, his shining sides ;

His head, now freed, he tosses to the skies;

His mane, dishevell’d, o’er his shoulders flies ;

He snuffs the females in the distant plain,

And springs, exulting, to his fields again.” —Pope’s Homer.

F, You have said very well; but this is not a Defi-
nition, 1t 1s a Deseryption.

C. What is the difference ?

F. A description is intended to give you a lively
picture of an object, as though you saw it; it ought to
be very full. A definition gives no picture to those
who have not seen it, it rather tells you what its subject
is not, than what it is, by giving you such clear, specific
marks, that it shall not be possible to confound it with
anything else; and hence it is of the greatest use in
throwing things into classes. We have a great many