Sicr. XXXIX. 4. GENERATION. 565 



their forms and qualities has arifen only fromthe 

 different irritabilities and fenfibilities, or volunta- 

 rities, or afTociabilities, of this original living fila- 

 ment; and perhaps in fome degree from the differ* 

 ent forms of the particles of the fluids, by which 

 }t has been at firft Simulated into a&ivity. And 

 that from hence, as Linnseus has conjectured in re- 

 ipecl to the vegetable world, it is not impoffible, 

 but the great variety of fpecies of animals, which 

 now tenant tjie earth, may have had their origin 

 from the mixture of a few natural orders. And 

 that thofe animal and vegetable mules, which could 

 continue their fpecies, have done fo, and conftitute 

 the numerous families of animals and vegetables 

 which now exift ; and that thofe mules, which were 

 produced with imperfrcl organs of generation, pe- 

 rifhed without reproduction, according to the ob- 

 fervation of Ariftotle; and are the animals, which 

 we now call mules. See Botanic Garden, Part IL 

 Note on Diamhus. 



Such a promifcuous intercourfe of animals is faid 

 $o exift at this day in New South Wales by Captain 

 Hunter. And that not only aoiongft the quadru- 

 peds and birds of different kinds, but even amongft 

 the fifh, and, as he believes, amongft the vegetables t 

 He fpeaks of an Animal between the opoffum and 

 the kangaroo, from the fize of a fheep to that of a 

 rat. Many fifh feemed to partake of the (hark; 

 fome ivith a Ikait's head and (houlders, and the 

 hind part *of a fhark ; others with a fhark's head 

 and the body of a mullet ; and fome with a fhark's 

 head and the flat body of a ii ing-ray. Many birds 

 partake of the parrot ; fome have the head, neck, 

 and bill of a parrot, with long ftraight feet and legs; 

 others with legs and feet of a parrot, w Lh head and 

 neck of a fea gull. Voyage to South Wales by 

 Captain John Hunter, p. 68. 



7. All 



