161 



3'ul does the name we give them express any thins more 

 than mere appearances] How can analogy enlighten us 

 concerning the nature of these minute bodies, ami the 

 m inner by which they are engendered and, ingender, 

 whilst she offers nothing to us 'either in the vegetable or 

 animal kingdom,, which bears the least relation to these 

 productions, so different from all those that were known 

 to us? I affirm as much with regard Jo the natural divi- 

 sion cf the bells, and of the shifting of the arm-poly- 

 puses. Thi> is an entire new order of things* which has 

 its particular laws, w*iich we should in all probality he 

 able to discover, could we find some means of penetrat- 

 ing into the secret mechanism of these little beings. We 

 should then discern all the sides by which they are con- 

 nected with other parts of the orgariical world. 



17. When we consider in a general view the compo- 

 sition of men and quadrupeds, we shall presently dis- 

 cern that there is with respect to all of them the same 

 foundation of structure, differently modified in different 

 species. In order to be convinced of this, we need only 

 east our eyes on those anatomical plates, in which are 

 represented the skeletons of divers animals that have 

 been dissected. From man, the ape, and horse, to the 

 squirrel, weasel, and mouse, we shall see throughout the 

 same design,, the same arrangement, the same essential 

 relations, except iii a few particulars. The spine, which is 

 formed of a series of parts, joined to each other as by so- 

 many hinges, bears to its upper extremity a sort of bony 

 box, of greater or less extent. Some bony arches, 

 which on one side are connected with the spine, and on- 

 the other with a part opposite to it, form another more 

 spacious box. The upper and lower extremities are 

 joined likewise to the spine by different interposed bands; 

 and maintain the body in those various attitudes its exi- 

 gencies require. This economy is so general iy ob- 

 served, that it has even been remarked that the verte- 

 brae of the neck are seven in number in all the species. 

 Almost the same order is to be met with in birds and- 

 fishes* It varies more and more in reptiles, shell fish, 

 and insects. The latter however have their bones, se- 



