50 LECTURE II. 



of small consequence in an arrangement of Qua- 

 drupeds. I may add., in the words of an inge- 

 nious French writer, " so easy is it for a person con- 

 versant in subjects of this nature to ring changes, 

 as it were, on the animal world, that a new system 

 of Quadrupeds might be composed in less than 

 half an hour." 



Without enquiring, therefore, whether the Lin- 

 nasan arrangement be in all points the best and 

 most natural, it may perhaps, with some variations, 

 be considered as the most convenient. 



The genus Vespertilio, or Bat, is characterized 

 by having, in general, small, upright, numerous, 

 sharp-pointed teeth; and the fingers or divisions 

 of the fore-feet are stretched out to a great length, 

 and connected by a thin, naked membrane, giving 

 the animal the power of flight. With respect to 

 the teeth, however, in this genus, I must observe 

 that they differ so much in the different kinds or spe- 

 cies, that several distinct genera might be formed, 

 instead of one, if an exact regard were paid to the 

 particular disposition of the teeth in the various 

 tribes. Some of the French naturalists have pur- 

 sued this plan, and have instituted several genera 

 from the single Limuuun genus Vespertilio. 



