ANIMATED NATURE. 



123 



kingdoms — the vertebrata, annulosa,* radiata, acrita,f 

 mollusca. Take, again, one of these sub-kingdoms, the 

 vertebrata, and we find it composed of five classes — the 

 mammalia, reptilia, piscis, amphibia, and aves, each of the 

 other sub-kingdoms being similarly devisable. Take the 

 mammalia, and it is in like manner found to be compos- 

 ed of five orders — the cheirotheria, J ferae, cetacea, glires, 

 ungulata. Even in this numerical uniformity, which goes 

 down to the lowest ramifications of the system, there 

 would be something very remarkable, as arguing a defi- 

 nite and preconceived arrangement ; but this is only the 

 least curious part of the Macleay theory. 



We shall best understand the wonderfully complex sys- 

 tem of analogies developed by that theory, if we start from 

 the part of -the kingdom in which they were first traced — 

 namely, the class aves, or birds. This gives for its five 

 orders — incessores, (perching birds,) raptores, (birds of 

 prey,) natatores, (swimming birds,) grallatores, (waders,) 

 rasores, (scrapers.) In these orders our naturalists dis- 

 cerned distinct organic characters, of different degrees ot 

 perfectness, the first being the most perfect with regard to 

 the general character of the class, and therefore the best 

 representative of that class ; whence it was called the 

 typical order. The second was found to be inferior, or 

 rather to have a less perfect balance of qualities ; hence it 

 was designated the sub-typical. In this are comprehended 

 the chief noxious and destructive animals of the circle to 

 which it belongs. The other three groups were called 

 aberrant, as exhibiting a much wider departure from the 

 typical standard, although the last of the three is observed 

 to make a certain recovery, and join on to the typical 

 group so as to complete the circle. The first of the aber- 

 rant groups (natatores) is remarkable for making the water 

 the theatre of its existence, and the birds composing it are 

 in general of comparatively large bulk. The second 

 (grallatores) are long-limbed and long-billed, that they 

 may wade and pick up their subsistence in the shallows 

 and marshes in which they chiefly live. The third (rasores) 

 are distinguished by strong feet, for walking or running on 

 the ground, and for scraping in it for their food : also by 



* Corresponding to the articulata of Cuvier. 

 j- A new sub-kingdom, made out of part of the radiata of Cuvier 

 t This is a newly applied term, the reasons for which will be ex 

 rlaiaed in the sequel- 



