FIRST GREAT DIVISION OF THE ANIMAL 



KINGDOM. 



ANIMALIA VERTEBRATA. 



The bodies and limbs of vertebrated animals being sup- 

 ported by a frame-work or skeleton composed of connected 

 pieces that are movable upon each other, their motions are 

 certain and vigorous. The solidity of this support enables 

 them to attain considerable size, and it is among them that 

 the largest animals are found. 



The great concentration of the nervous system, and the 

 volume of its central portions, give energy and stability to 

 their sentiments, whence result superior intelligence and per- 

 fectibility. 



Their body always consists of a head, trunk and members. 



The head is formed by the cranium which contains the 

 brain, and by the face which is composed of two jaws and of 

 the receptacles of the senses. 



The trunk is supported by the spine and the ribs. 



The spine is formed of vertebrae, the first of which sup- 

 ports the head, that move upon each other, and are perforated 

 by an annular opening, forming together a canal, in which is 

 lodged that medullary production from which arise the nerves, 

 called the spinaj marrow. 



The spine, most commonly, is continued into a tail, extend- 

 ing beyond the posterior members. 



The ribs are a kind of semicircular hoops which protect 

 Vol. I.E 



