LECTURE I. D 



animal-, and Zoophytes, which latter are of very 

 various. f<rm>, and arc allied by many resemblances 

 to the vegetable world. 



In taking a survey of the animal world, we may 

 cither commence with the highest order of animals, 

 and gradually descend from our own species to the 

 minutest animalcules visible by the assistance of 

 the microscope; or from these minute points, as it 

 were, of existence, to Man himself, the chief of 

 Creation here helow. 



I must observe, that it may be greatly doubted, 

 whether it be practicable to make out a continued 

 natural chain or series of animals, united through- 

 out by evidently connecting links; at least, all at- 

 tempts of that kind have hitherto failed; and the 

 animal world, and indeed all the productions of 

 Nature, seem rather connected by many points of 

 affinity on different sides, than by a regular chain 

 of gradation; so that, as the learned Dr. Pallas has 

 well observed,the face of nature may rather be said 

 to represent a reticulated or polygonal surface, than 

 to be disposed in a continued linear progression. 



But though a perfectly natural chain or arrange- 

 ment of animals cannot be contrived, it is still ne- 

 cessary to form some kind of classification, in order 



