SENTIENT PRINCIPLE* 17 



appear to be the more perfect. It requires the im- 

 agination to be severely disciplined by the con- 

 troul of the reasoning powers, and the authority 

 of analogy, to yield to the opinion, that the clum- 

 sy inert shapeless oyster is more intelligent than 

 the frugal bee, the provident ant, and the revenge- 

 ful wasp. 



Among this division of animals, we discover 

 instincts, which guide their actions like the wisdom 

 of sages. But as they have no brain, we cannot 

 ascribe to them any of those faculties of mind^ 

 which seem to be lodged no where but in that or- 



IV. VERTEBRAL ANIMALS. 



Animals of this division are furnished with the 

 appendage, at the anterior extremity of the medul- 

 la spinalis, denominated the brain. This appen- 

 dage consists of fibrous fascicles, radiating in pairs 

 from the end of the medulla spinalis, and termina- 

 ting at the inner surface of the cranium, and inve- 

 loped in a soft ash-colored medullary substance. 

 These fascicles are few in number in the class of 

 fish, more in the class of amphibious animals, 

 more still in birds, and most of all in the class 

 mammalia, or in that class in which the young are 

 nourished with the milk of the dam. Experience 

 teaches us, that the sagacity of animals increases 

 as we ascend the scale of increased fascicles. . 

 The lizard and snake are more sagacious than 

 fish ; the bird more sagacious than lizards and 

 snakes ; the dog and horse more sagacious thaa 

 birds. 



In ascending the scale of orders in the class 

 mammalia, we find the increased number of cere- 



2* 



