BARON CUVIER. 73 



treating of the Division of Animals, M. Ciivier 

 sums up the great characters of the animal king- 

 dom, proceeding from Mammalia to Zoophytes, 

 or, in other terms, the whole range of animal 

 life, from man, to the simple pulp which scarcely 

 merits the name of an organised being. From 

 this I do not find it possible to cite any isolated 

 passage, the whole is so beautifully linked to- 

 gether ; but the perusal of this portion alone is 

 calculated to enlarge our ideas respecting cre- 

 ation, to give us new thouglits concerning the 

 common occurrences of life, and to lead us to a 

 train of reflections, which mount upwards to the 

 great Source of that life which is presented to 

 us in so many extraordinary and elaborate 

 forms. The rest of the work consists of a de- 

 scription of these forms, external and internal ; 

 the minutest details concerning the use of eacli 

 organ are also given to us ; the chemical compo- 

 sition of each part is explained ; the greater or 

 lesser developement of this wonderful machinery 

 and combination is set forth ; the total absence 

 of some parts ; the results of tliese differences, 

 and the action of the whole in the vast field of 

 nature, all are laid before us with a clearness 

 and precision that are truly admirable. For, al- 

 though endowed with imagination, brilliancy of 



