238 LAMARCK, HIS LIFE AND WORK 



mals which have caused the most considerable changes, 

 but rather the coral polyps, etc.* He then, after 

 dilating on the value of the study of the invertebrate 

 animals, proceeds to define them, and closes his lec- 

 ture by describing the seven classes into which he 

 divides this group. 



II. Reciter ches sur I' Organisation des Corps vivans, 

 1802 {Opening Discourse^ 



The following is an abstract with translations of 

 the most important passages relating to evolution : 



That the portion of the animal kingdom treated in 

 these lectures comprises more species than all the other 

 groups taken together is, however, the least of those 

 considerations which should interest my hearers. 



" It is the group containing the most curious forms, 

 the richest in marvels of every kind, the most aston- 

 ishing, especially from the singular facts of organiza- 

 tion that they present, though it is that hitherto the 

 least considered under these grand points of view. 



" How much better than learning the names and 

 characters of all the species is it to learn of the origin, 

 relation, and mode of existence of all the natural 

 productions with which we are surrounded. 



"First Part : Progress in structure of living beings 

 in proportion as circumstances favor them. 



" When we give continued attention to the exami- 

 nation of the organization of different living beings, 

 to that of different systems which this organization 



* This he already touched upon in his Mimoires de Physique et 

 d'Histoire naturelle (p. 342). 



