FIRST GREAT DIVISION OF THE ANIMAL 
KINGDOM. 
ANIMALIA VERTEBRATA. 
The bodies and limbs of vertebrated animals being sup- 
ported by a frame-work or skeleton composed of connected 
pieces that are movable upon each other, their motions are 
certain and vigorous. ‘The solidity of this support enables 
them to attain considerable size, and it is among them that 
the largest animals are found. 
The great concentration of the nervous system, and the 
volume of its central portions, give energy and stability to 
their sentiments, whence result superior intelligence and per- 
fectibility. , 
Their body always consists of a head, trunk and members. 
The head is formed by the cranium which contains the 
brain, and by the face which is composed of two jaws and of 
the receptacles of the senses. 
The trunk is supported by the spine and the ribs. 
The spine is formed of vertebra, the first of which sup- 
- ports the head, that move upon each other, and are perforated 
by an annular opening, forming together a canal, in which is 
lodged that medullary production from which arise the nerves, 
called the spinal marrow. 
_ The spine, most commonly, is continued into a tail, extend- 
ing beyond the posterior members. 
The ribs are a kind of semicircular hoops which protect 
Vou. l.—E 
