NATURAL HISTORY OF CREATION. icSs 



conspicuous about the centre of the series of grada- 

 tions : — 



Kingdom Annulosa. 



Sub-kingdom Eeptilia. 



Class (Mammaha) .... Fera?. 



(Aves) Raptores. 



In the annulosa it is not distinct, although we must also 

 remember that insects do produce enormous ravages and 

 annoyance in many parts of the earth. In the reptilia 

 it is more distinct, since to this class belong the ophidia 

 (serpents), an order peculiarly noxious. It comes to a 

 kind of climax in the ferje and raptores, which fulfil the 

 function of butchers among land animals. As we 

 descend through tribes, families, genera, species, it 

 becomes fainter and fainter, but never altogether van- 

 ishes. In the dentirostres, for instance, we have in a 

 subdued form the hooked bill and predaceous character 

 of the raptores ; to this tribe belongs the family of the 

 shrikes, so deadly to all the lesser field birds. In the 

 genus bos, we have in the sub- typical group, the bison, 

 "wild, revengeful, and showing an innate detestation 

 of man." In equus, we have, in the same situation, the 

 zebra, which actually shows the stripes of the tiger, and 

 is as remarkable for its wildness as its congeners — the 

 Jiorse and ass — are for their docility and usefulness. To 

 quote again from Mr. Swainson, " the singular threat- 

 ening aspect which the caterpillars of the sphinx moth 

 assume on being disturbed is a remarkable modification 

 of the terrific or evil nature which is impressed in one 

 form or another, palpable or remote, upon all sub-typical 

 groups ; for this division of the lepidopterous order is 

 precisely of this denomination. In the pre-eminent type 

 of this order of insects, the butterflies (papilionides), our 



