22 GENERAL COMPOSITION OF ANIMAL BODIES. 



complicated machines, and succeeds in satisfying ardent curiosity, 

 which is one of the characteristic traits of superior intelligence. 



No study can be more grand, or more interesting ; in reveal- 

 ing what is extraordinary in animal organization, it leaves us 

 tilled with admiration at the sight of this infinite, this most asto- 

 nishing work of the Creator. 



Considered in their mechanical relations alone, the bodies of 

 animals present us examples of complication and perfection, to 

 which our best constructed and most perfect machines do not 

 approach : here we find without number, models of ingenious 

 contrivances, of which, the most successful labors of the archi- 

 tect or optician have produced but imperfect copies. 



But these are the least of the wonders which the animal econo- 

 my offers us. The forces, which put into action all the material 

 springs of our body, are regulated and combined with a wisdom 

 which is far beyond human science; and the more we contemplate 

 the play of our organs, and the faculties with which they are 

 endowed, the more we feel the necessity of recurring to the Supe- 

 rior Intelligence who has created this admirable production, and 

 who has placed in it, a principle of existence and of movement. 



To study with profit the particular history of different animals, 

 it is necessary, as we see, to possesss some general notions of 

 their anatomy and physiology; and it is this preliminary know- 

 ledge which is to engage our attention in the first of our course. 



OF THE GENERAL COMPOSITION OF ANIMAL BODIES, AND THE 

 FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY THEIR DIFFERENT ORGANS. 



17 All living beings are formed of a union of solid and of 

 liquid parts. 



18. The solid parts are composed of small fibres and little 

 plates, so arranged as to contain the liquid parts, in spaces left 

 between them; they thus form textures or tissues of various 

 kinds, and we give the name of organization to the disposition 

 which the tissues assume. 



19. Organized bodies, that is, bodies having an organiza- 

 tion or mode of structure which we have just indicated, are 

 the only living beings ; because this internal conformation is 

 necessary to the maintenance of life : therefore, non-organized or 

 inorganic bodies, as stones, and metals are incapable of living. 



17. Of what are living beings formed ? 



18. Of what are the solid parts composed ? what is meant by organization? 



19. What are organized bodies? Why are stories and metal* incapable ol 

 living ? 



