W. B. DTVIGHT. 139-(109) 



rated low; carion feeders are low ; but they are especially 

 degraded by any modification of the usual organization 

 of their class for the purpose of adapting them the better 

 to such filthy feeding. Thus the neck of the vulture, 

 bared of the usual feathers, to enable it the better to 

 plunge its head deep into rotting carcasses, is a degrada- 

 tion. 



Animals fitted for darkness, are, in so far, lower than 

 those of similar general structure, who are fitted to live 

 in broad daylight. Thus the mole is on this account 

 lower than the squirrel. Herbivorous animals are con- 

 sidered lower than those that are carnivorous. Digiti- 

 grades, standing on their toes, are generally rated, by so 

 much, superior to plantigrades, which stand on both 

 heel and toe, and having tuberculated molars fitted for 

 a mixed diet. Short lived species are lower than long- 

 lived ones. Those who lay many eggs, or produce sev- 

 eral or many young at once, are inferior to the less pro 

 ductive ones. Esop 1 s ' ' Unus, sed leo ' ' is good science 

 to-day. 



The power of regenerating lost parts, as the crab can 

 replace a lost claw, is a form of budding, and a low at- 

 tribute. Animals who like the owl possess a frontal 

 plane to the head, that is, a, face with the eyes looking 

 directly forward, are thereby superior to those lacking 

 a face, and having, like the hawk, the eyes on each side 

 of the head. The possession of a chin by man alone, 

 seems to make that appendage an element of high grade. 

 The oriental custom of swearing by the chin, has there- 

 fore a basis of reason. Vegetative and imitative forms, 

 like the arborescent hydroids, are low. 



Lastly, types which were prevalent in earlier geologi- 

 cal ages, only to be superseded more or less by later 

 types, are generally considered of lower grade than 

 those which took their place. But this principle must 

 not be pressed too far in its application. 



There are certain points connected with these princi- 

 ples of gradation, the brief consideration of which will 

 form a fitting sequel to what has been said. 



1. What are the results of applying these principles 

 to the classification of the animal kingdom \ From what 

 has been said, it is evident that the grade of any parti- 

 cular animal is not a simple, but a very complicated 



