CLASSIFICATION OF ANIMALS. 239 



Having considered the distinction between inorganic and organic 

 substances, we will proceed to a division which may be more lamil- 

 'ar to you ; that by which the matter upon our globe is ranged under 

 Chree kingdoms — the Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral. 



We find it somewhat difficult to explain the difference between 

 ;:he different kinds of organized beings, viz. animals and vegetables ; 

 the lines of distinction often seem to fade so gradually, that we can- 

 not well decide where the animal ends, and the vegetable begins. 



This difficulty may seem at first somewhat strange, as you may 

 perhaps never have been at a loss to tell an animal from a vegetable : 

 you would certainly know how to distinguish between a nightingale 

 and a rose, or between an ox and an oak ; but these are animals 

 and vegetables in a comparatively perfect state. 



The perfect animal you see has the power to move about, to seek 

 the nomishment most agreeable ; you perceive it uttering audible 

 sounds, possessing sensation and apparent consciousness. The 

 plant, on the contrary, is confined to a particular spot, having no 

 other nourishment than substances which themselves come in con- 

 tact with it; exhibiting no consciousness, nor, to common observa- 

 tion, any sensation. It is only when we examine with close atten- 

 tion the various phenomena in the vegetable and animal kingdoms, 

 that we learn to doubt as to the exact boundaries by which they 

 are separated. 



The division of nature into three kingdoms, animal, vegetable, and 

 mineral, is very ancient, and appears at first to be clear and precise. 



Minerals destitute of life increase by the accumulation of new 

 particles. 



Vegetables grow, produce seeds which contain the elements of fu- 

 ture plants like themselves, and then die. 



Animals unite to the properties of vegetables, the feeling of their 

 own existence ; or as Linnaeus has said, " Stones grow, vegetables 

 groiD and live, animals grow, live, and /ee/." Although this simple 

 view of the works of creation is pleasing, it is not satisfactory; be- 

 cause we are not able to decide where, in the vast series of organ- 

 ized beings, sensation ceases. 



That you may the better understand what is meant by the grada- 

 tions of animal life, we will present you with a sketch of the classifi- 

 cation of animals. The study of this department of nature you 

 have already been told is termed Zoology. 



A very general and simple classification of animals is as follows : — 



"Vertebral animals, having backbones. 



AvERTEBRAL ANIMALS, destitute of backboues. 



Vertebral animals are divided into, 



1. Quadrupeds. The science of which has no popular name. 

 It includes four-footed animals ; as ox, dog, mouse. 



2. Birds. The science of which is called ornithology. It includes 

 the feathered tribe ; as pigeon, goose, wren. 



3. Amphibious Animals. The science of which is called amphib- 

 iology. It includes those cold-blooded animals which are capable of 

 living on dry land, or in the water ; as tortoise, lizard, serpent, frog. 



4. Fishes. The science of which is called ichthyology. It in 

 eludes all aquatic animals which have gills and fins ; as shad, trout, 

 sturgeon, eel. 



Three kingdoms of nature— Distinction between the different kinds of organ 

 ^ed beings— The perfect animal— The plant— Minerals— Vegetables— Animals— Zo- 

 ology— Division of animals into two classes— How many classes of Vertebral 

 animals 1 



