ITS FAUNA. 



63 



every element earth, air, and ocean and even finding 

 their abodes as parasites on other animals, the articulata 

 have a function as diversified as their organisation. They 



Articulate Aspect of Animal Life 



are vegetable as well as animal feeders, and occur in every 

 region, though culminating in numbers, size, and specific 

 variety under the genial influences of equatorial and tropi- 

 cal latitudes. Their world-office is mainly biological ; and 

 while preying alike on plants and animals, they become in 

 turn the principal food of other creatures fishes, birds, 

 reptiles, and mammals. Lastly, and highest and most diver- 



