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CHAPTER IV. 

 Functions and Instincts of the Infusory Animals. 



SINCE at the original creation of the animal king- 

 dom, it was the will of the Supreme Being to 

 begin at the foot of the scale and to terminate 

 with man, whom he placed at its summit, thus 

 making a gradual progress towards the most 

 perfect being it was his will to create, and end- 

 ing with him : so I think it will best manifest his 

 power and perfections if I endeavour to trace out 

 the footsteps of the Deity in the same direction ; 

 and instead of beginning, as is usually done by 

 systematical writers, with the highest grade of 

 animals, if I ascend from the lowest. 



Our first inquiry must be what are these 

 lowest animals? And are there any organized 

 bodies that partake of two natures, that are either 

 animal at one period of their existence and vege- 

 table at another, or else are partly animal and 

 partly vegetable? These doubtful forms must be 

 sought for amongst what have been denominated 

 first-plants l and first-animals ; 2 amongst the 

 former is a certain genus or tribe 3 of plants, 



1 Protophyta. a Protozoa. 3 Oscillatorice. Vauch. 

 VOL. I. L 



