Part L 171 the Creation. 21 



how much more imperfecft any Genus^ or Order 

 of Beings, is, fo much more numerous are the 

 Species contain'd under it. As for Example: 

 Birds being a more perfed: Kind of Animals 

 than- Fi(hes, there are more of thefe than of 

 thofe 3 and for the like Reafon more Birds 

 than Quadrupeds, and more Infefts than of any 

 of the Reft, and fo more Plants than Animals, 

 ISlature being more fparing in her more excel- 

 lent Produdions. If this Rule, I fay, holds 

 good, then fliould there be more Species of FcJ^ 

 Jils^ or generally of inanimate Bodies^ than of 

 Vegetables^ of which there is fome Reafon to 

 doubt, unlefs we will admit all Sorts of formed 

 Stones to be diftincS: Species, 



Animate Bodies are divided into four great 

 Genera, or Orders, Beajis^ Birds, Fijhes, and 

 InfeBs, 



The Species of Beajis, including ahb Serpents, 

 are not very numerous: Of fuch as are certainly 

 known and defcrib'd, I dare not Hiy above 150; 

 and yet I believe, not many, that are of any con- 

 fiderable Bignefs, in the known Regions of the 

 World, have efcap'd the Cognizance of the Cu- 

 rious. (I reckon all Dogs to be of one Species,^ 

 they mingling together in Generation, and the 

 Breed of fuch Mixtures being prolifick.) 



The Number of Birds known and defcrib'd 

 may be near 500 ; and the Number oi Fijhes, 

 fecluding. Sbell-Fijh, as many : But if the ShelL 

 Fijld be taken in, more than fix times the Num- 

 ber. How many of each Genus remain yet un- 

 difcover'd, one cannot certainly nor very near- 



C 3 - ly 



