CLASSIFICATION. 187 



The FIRST of these four groups comprehends 

 all animals that have backbones or vertebrae, and 

 which are hence called the Vertebrata. 



The SECOND group comprehends all those ani- 

 mals which have soft bodies, and are therefore 

 called the Mollusca. 



The THIRD group includes those animals that 

 are jointed, and which are therefore termed the 

 Articulata. 



The FOURTH group contains all those that are 

 rayed, and are therefore called the Eadiata. 



The reader may further be presumed to begin 

 with the lowest of these four great divisions, and 

 thence to advance upwards in the scale. This is 

 the best mode of advancing to the consideration 

 of the higher ranks of organised beings. We 

 shall therefore presume our reader to adopt this 

 course, and to observe also the subdivisions of the 

 groups brought under his attention, so far at 

 least as the natural objects which the sea-shore 

 presents to him shall enable him to do so. 



