219 



genious and indefatigable Mr. Reaumer : but how 

 inconsiderable is all thii, in comparison of that which 

 still remains undiscovered ? How many species, how 

 many entire genera oi these, are. we totally unac- 

 quainted with ? How many millions, by their ex- 

 treme minuteness, elude our most careful enquiries'? 

 And the minuter parts of larger animals, escape our 

 utmost diligence 1 So that all we can attain to, is 

 an imperfect knowledge of what is obvious in their 

 composition. 



Have we a more perfect knowledge of jishes than 

 of insects 1 How many of the inhabitants of the 

 waters are entirely concealed from human view, by 

 the element wherein they live ? It is not permitted 

 to the sons of men to walk through the paths of the 

 sea, nor, consequently, to trace out their several 

 kinds, or species, with any exactness. But it is highly 

 probable, these are far more numerous than the spe- 

 cies of land animals : as the distance between the 

 smallest and the largest of sea animals is so im- 

 mensely greater; from the minow t for instance, 

 (though this is far from being the least,) to the 

 Norwegian whale : to say nothing of Bishop Pon 

 toppidan's craken and sea-serpent , which, I doubt, 

 never existed but in his own imagination. And with 

 regard to the species we are acquainted with/ how 

 little is it that we know? Only a few of their gene- 

 ral properties ; enough to satisfy our need, but not 

 our cunosily. 



