INTRODUCTION. 3 
brate their nuptials in a, genial luetamsrphofis, and continue their 
hind by the difperfion of ieed within prefcribed limits. 
They are bodies organi-z.ed, and have life and not fenfation. 
ANIMALS adorn the exterioi; parts of the earth, refpire, and 
E^nerate eggs; are impelled to a&ion by hunger, congeneric aftcc-^ 
tions, and pain ; and by preying on other animals and vegetables, 
reflrain within proper proportion, the numbers of both. 
They are bodies organized, and have life, JenJaHon, and the 
power of loco-motion., 
Man, the laft and bed of created works, formed after the image 
his Maker, endowed with a portion of iiitelleaual divinity, 
the governor and fubjugator of all other beings, is,, by his wifdom 
alone, able to form juft conclufions from fuch things a? prefent 
themfelves to his (enfes, which can only confift of bodies merely 
natural. Hence the firft ftep of wifdom is to know thefe bodies ; 
and to be able, by thofe marks imprinted on them by nature, to 
diftinguiftx them from each, other, and to affix to every objed ds 
proper name. . . , i v. u ^ c 
Thefe are the elements of all fcience ; this is the great alphabet o 
nature; for if the name be loft, the knowledge of the objed is loft 
alfo; and without thefe, the ftudent will feek m vain for the means 
to inveftiaate the hidden treafures of nature. 
METHOD, the foul pf Science, indicates that every natura 
body may, by infpedion, be known by its own peculiar name; and 
this name points out whatever the induftry of man has been able to 
difco.ver concerning it : fo that amidft the greateft apparent confufion, 
the greateft order is vifible. - , v 
SYSTEM is conveniently divided into five branches, each fij -- 
ordinate to the other:, clajs, order, genus, fpecies, and variety, wit 
their names and charaders. For he muft firft know the name who 
is willing to inveftigate the objed. 
The fcience of nature fuppofes an exad knowledge of the nomen- 
clature, and a fyftematic arrangement of all natural bcdies. In 
arrangement, the clajfes and orders are arbitrary ; t e 
fpecies are natural. All true knowledge refers to the fpecie , 
folid knowledge to the genus. hiaheft 
Of thefe three grand divifions the 1 ^ loweft 
in comparative eftimation, next the vegetable, and the laft 
is the mineral kingdom. ANIMALS, 
B 3 
