75 



never shift their place : some divide themselves length- 

 . wise, and thus make very pretty nosegays, whose flowers 

 are in clusters. 



11. There is a wonderful variety in the construction 

 of animal machines. There are some whose number of 

 parts is very small ; others, on the contrary, are very 

 much compounded. In some there are only two or 

 three pieces alike, others exhibit to us a much greater 

 number. In short, the same parts are differently dis- 

 posed or combined in different machines. 



The perfection of the machines in nature consists, as 

 in those of art, in number of parts and diversity of 

 effects. That is accounted the most perfect which, 

 with the smallest number of parts, produces the greatest 

 variety of effects. 



But there is, with respect to ourselves, a considerable 

 difference between the natural and artificial machines ; 

 for whereas we may judge of these by an exact 

 comparison of their strength and produce, we can 

 only form our opinion of the others by their con- 

 sequences. 



After this manner we are enabled to judge of the 

 perfection of the human body, from the diversity and 

 extent of the operations of man, rather than from an 

 inspection of his organs, of which we have only a par- 

 tial view. And if corporeal perfection corresponds with 

 spiritual, as there is reason to believe it does, man, as 

 he is superior to other animals by understanding, so he 

 likewise is by organization : whence we may infer, that 

 those animals, whose structure most nearly resembles 

 that of men, ought to be considered as the most elevated 

 in the scale, 



12. Of all animals that are known to us, the polypus 

 is one whose structure seems to be the most simple, and 

 to come nearest that of plants. This extraordinary ani- 

 mal seems to consist altogether of stomach. His body 

 and arms are composed of one and the same bowel, 



VOL. IV. E 



