C 66 ] 



half fowl and half fifh by our leamen -, but, on 

 a ilrid inquiry, I think, they mull hold the 

 place of perfeâ: birds, partaking of no other 

 animal nature : for, though their little wings 

 appear, at firft fight, to be icaly fins, yet, on 

 applying magnifying glalTes, they plainly difco- 

 ver themfelves to be covered with minute fea- 

 thers, having tubes or quills, fhafts and webs, 

 as larger feathers have, 



I believe it would be a vain attempt, jn the 

 mofl knowing naturaiift, to think of ranging 

 all the productions of nature, animals, vege- 

 tables, and minerals, in fuch a true and natural 

 order, that each particular body fhould fland 

 precifely in its proper place, between two other 

 bodies that juflly and naturally fhould go before 

 and follow after it. There arife infurmountable 

 difficulties, when we go about to confider what 

 relation any one body or thing bears to another : 

 fometimes, indeed, the chain of connexion may 

 be carried on, in feeming regular links, for a 

 little way -, but we fliall find it impofTible for hu- 

 manjudgment to continue it to any great length. 



Mr, 



