ANIMALS AND VEGETABLES. 5 



being, it is impoffible to doubt concerning the 

 reality of thofe diflindions and refemblances 

 which we perceive in the bodies that furround 

 us. We may, therefore, conclude, without he- 

 fitation, that man holds the firft rank in the or- 

 der of nature; and that brute animals hold the 

 fecond, vegetables the third, and minerals the 

 laft. Though we are unable clearly to diftin- 

 guifh between our animal and fpiritual qualities; 

 though brutes are endowed with the fame fenfes, 

 the fame principles of life and motion, and per- 

 form many actions in a manner fimilar to thofe 

 of man ; yet they have not the fame extent of 

 relation to external objed:s ; and, confequently, 

 their refemblance to us fails in numberleis par- 

 ticulars. We differ ftill more from vegetables; 

 but we are more analogous to them than to mi- 

 nerals ; for vegetables poffefs a fpecies of ani- 

 mated organization ; but minerals have nothing 

 that approaches to regular organs. 



Betore we give tlie hiflory of an animal, it is 

 neceliary to have an exad knowledge of the ge- 

 neral order of liis peculiar relations, and then to 

 diilinguillx tliofe relations which he enjoys equal- 

 ly with vegetables and minerals. An animal pof- 

 fclTcs nothincr common to the mineral but the 

 general prop<ertics of matter : His nature and 

 oeconomy, liowever, are perfe<5lly different. 

 The mineral is inadivc, infenfible, fubje(£t to 

 every impulfe, without organization, or the 

 power of reprodudion, a rude mafs, fitted only 

 to be trode by the feet of men and of animals. 



A 3 Even 



