VERTEBRATES, OR BACKBONED ANIMALS. 



The Vertebrates, as stated on the first page, hare a 



backbone made of parts, 

 each one of which is called 

 a vertebra. This back- 

 bone is the most important 

 portion of a bony frame- 

 work called a skeleton. 

 Upon this skeleton is 

 placed the flesh, and out- 

 side of the whole is the 

 skin, which is naked, or 

 covered with hair, fur, 

 feathers, or scales, accord- 

 ing to the kind of ani- 

 mal. Within the head is 

 a wonderful organ called 

 the brain, which has a 

 branch called the spinal 

 cord, extending the whole 

 length of the body, and 

 contained in a tube formed 

 in the upper part of the 

 backbone. From the spi- 

 nal cord there are little 

 Fig. 20. — Skeleton of the highest branches, Called nerves, 

 Vertebrate— Man. which reach to all parts 



of the body. The brain, 

 spinal cord, and nerves 

 are called the Nervous 

 System, which is much 

 Fig. 21. the same in its general 



ft, A, backbone. 



A single vertebra, the 

 round white space show- 

 ing the place of ttie spi- 

 ntd cord. 



