S LAMARCK, HIS LIFE AND WORK 
mals which have caused the most considerable changes, 
but rather the coral polyps, etc.* He then, after 
dilating on the value of the study of the invertebrate 
animals, proceeds to define them, and closes his lec- 
ture by describing the seven classes into which he 
divides this group. 
Il. Recherches sur 1’ Organisation des Corps vivans, 
1802 (Opening Discourse). 
The following is an abstract with translations of 
the most important passages relating to evolution: 
That the portion of the animal kingdom treated in 
these lectures comprises more species than all the other 
groups taken together is, however, the least of those 
considerations which should interest my hearers. 
“Tt is the group containing the most curious forms, 
the richest in marvels of every kind, the most aston- 
ishing, especially from the singular facts of organiza- 
tion that they present, though it is that hitherto the 
least considered under these grand points of view. 
“How much better than learning the names and 
characters of all the species is it to learn of the origin, 
relation, and mode of existence of all the natural 
productions with which we are surrounded. 
“First Part: Progress in structure of living beings 
in proportion as circumstances favor them. 
‘“When we give continued attention to the exami- 
nation of the organization of different living beings, 
to that of different systems which this organization 
* This he already touched upon in his A/émoires de Physique et 
d@’ Histoire naturelle (p. 342). 
