20 GENERAL NOTIONS ON NATURAL HISTORY. 



more limited, and all that has not a direct relation to the physical 

 history of our globe and the beings spread over its surface, is ex- 

 cluded. Consequently, it does not embrace the study of the stars, 

 nor of meteors, nor even of the air which surrounds our globe ; 

 or, in other words, it comprises neither astronomy nor meteorology. 



6. rfstroitomy, if we may so express ourselves, is the natural 

 history of the celestial bodies ; by the assistance of observa- 

 tion and calculation, it applies the general laws of physics to 

 the study of the phenomena which the celestial bodies present, 

 and thus determines their form, their volume, the distance which 

 they are separated from our globe as well as from each other, 

 and the movements which they perform in space. 



7. Meteorology is in some measure the natural history of the 

 atmosphere; it inquires the origin of thunder, of rain, of hail, 

 of the dew, of falling or meteoric stones, (aerolites), and of the 

 various meteors which appear in the heavens. 



8. Natural History properly so called, we repeat, extends its 

 domain over the structure of our globe, and over all the beings 

 found upon its surface. 



9. These beings are separated into three groups or kingdoms ; 

 the mineral kingdom ; the vegetable kingdom, and the animal 

 kingdom ; in this way Natural History is divided into three 

 branches : 



1 0. Tke natural history of Minerals, and that of the terrestrial 

 globe, which is formed of them, bear the names of MINERALOGY, 

 and GEOLOGY. 



11. The natural history of Plants is called BOTANY. 



12. The natural history of Animals is termed ZOOLOGY. 



It is the last of these which is to occupy our attention at 

 present. 



13. The study of animals, as well as the study of plants, is 

 subdivided into three principal branches, according as they are 

 considered in respect to: 



1st, The characters which distinguish them one from the other, 

 the climate they dwell in, their habits, &c.; 



2nd, The internal structure of their bodies ; 



3rd, The play of their organs and the manner in which they 

 respectively produce the various phenomena of life. 



6. What is Astronomy ? 



7. What is Meteorology ? 



8. What is Natural Histoiy properly so called ? 



9. Into how many kingdoms is Natural History divided ? What are they t 



10. What is Mineralogy ? Geology? 



11. What is Botany? 



12. What is Zoology ? 



13. How is the study of Animals and Plants divided? 



