Totemism is an institution represented by a special relationship between a particular type or species of animal (or even plant) and the members of some social groups (especially kinship groups) whose function it is to express solidarity.
Totemism is a general problem in which the contrasts in nature serve to create an integral whole.
Totemism is a classificatory device whereby discrete elements of the external world are associated with discrete elements of the social world.
Totemism is rooted in the belief of an external soul. Because we cannot know which particular bird our soul is in, we are obliged to save them all.
Totemism is a class of material objects which a savage regards with superstitious respect, believing that there exist between him and every member of the class an intimate and altogether special relation.
Totemism is a pseudo-institution whereby, at a deeper level than that which scholars have been mistakenly considering, phenomena arbitrarily put together to make up a pseudo-institution are endowed with some inner meaning which makes them worthy of interest.