THE 
ANIMAL KINGDOM. 
INTRODUCTION. 
SECT. I NATURAL HISTORY IN GENERAL, AND METHODS OF ARRANGEMENT. 
Nature — Division of the Physical Sciences — Natural History — General Principles 
— Conditions of Existence, or Final Causes — Observation — Classification Arti- 
ficial or Natural — Subordination of Characters, 
We deem it necessary to commence our work by clearly defining the ob- 
ject of Natural History, and by establishing a precise line of demarcation, 
so as to separate tliis science from others, to which it is nearly allied. 
This is tlie more requisite, as confused and indistinct notions on the 
subject very generally prevail. 
Various significations have been applied to the term Nature, in our 
language as well as in most others ; — sometimes it denotes the qualities of 
a being derived from original constitution, as distinguished from those ac- 
quired by art ; — sometimes it signifies the vast concourse of beings com- 
posing the universe; — and sometimes the laws which govern those beings. 
It is especially in this last sense that we are accustomed to personify Na- 
ture ; and, from a proper feeling of respect, to use this term for the name 
of its divine Author. Physics, or Physical Science, may consider nature 
in any of these three points of view. 
The name of the Supremo Being, which never ought to be pronounced without 
emotion, could not he introduced into philosophical discussions upon every occasion, 
tvithout a violation of decorum. Accordingly, it has become an established practice to 
use the milder term Nature, a.s an appellation of similar import. This is done with- 
out any intention of deifying the powers of nature. On the contrary, the best and 
'Visest natural philosophers agree with Dr Clarke in considering “ that there is 
UO such thing as what wo commonly call the course of nature, or the power of na- 
ture. The course of nature, truly and properly speaking, is nothing else than the 
Will of God, producing certain effects in a continued, regular, constant, and uniform 
manner, which course or manner of acting being in every moment perfectly arbitrary, 
is as easy to bo altered at any time as to be preserved. So that all those things 
which we commonly say are the effects of the natural powers of matter and laws of 
motion, of gravitation, attraction, and tho like, are indeed (if we will speak strictly 
and properly) the effects of God's acting upon matter, continually and every moment, 
uither immediately by himself, or mediately by some created intelligent being." In 
•hese and following passages, the term law is used in a metaphorical sense. An 
ordinary law of civil society is addressed by an intelligent legislator to persons, 
oapable both of understanding tho meaning of the law, and of regulating their actions 
^ordingly. But, when we use the phrases law of vegetable life, law of gravitation, 
't is evident that the word is used in a sense widely different from the former. Na- 
ture, that is, the Supreme Being, not only prescribes the law, but executes it ; a law 
"f nature being nothing more than that particular regular mode of acting which tho 
®eity has prescribed to himself. 
Physical Science is either general or particular. 
IDien we deduce effects from causes, and, by explaining the various phenomena of 
uture, obtain the power of applying the materials she presents to purposes useful to 
mwkind, it is termed General Physics, or Natural Philosophy; but, when we con- 
>'der the various objects presented by Nature, simply for tho purpose of obtaining a 
^“owledge of their order, their arrangement, and the disposition of their parts, tvithout 
eferring effects to their causes, it is termed Particular Physics, or Natural History. 
^ thus appears, that while Natural Philosophy is the ultimate object of science, Na- 
mal History is the source whence all science must necassarily arise. The former is 
“Rivalled for sublimity of ideas and depth of investigation, tho latter for variety of 
' aracter and interest in its details. While Natural Philosophy is best fitted to occupy 
® mind in its severer moments. Natural History affords an agreeable relief, by the 
^pneral beauty of its objects, the elegance of their forms, the richness of their colour- 
"g. the singularity of their habits and instincts, and the exquisite adaptation of all 
mr parts. Both alike Ic.ad us to form elevated and enlightened conceptions of tho 
P»wer and beneficence of tho Creator. 
General Physics exaininos, in an abstract manner, each of the pro- 
Pt'rties of tliose moveable and extended bodies, to which we apply the 
Spheral term matUr. 
That branch called Mechanics considers the particles of matter as col- 
lected in masses, and deduces mathematically, from a very small number 
of experiments, the laws of equilibrium, of motion, and of its communi- 
cation. Its several divisions take the names of Statics, Dynamics, Hy- 
drostatics, Hydrodynamics, Aerostatics, &c. according to the nature of 
the bodies, the motions of which are under examination.* Optics consi- 
ders solely the peculiar vibrations of light; but in this science various 
phenomena, ascertained entirely by experiment, are daily becoming more 
numerous. 
Chemistry, the other division of General Physics, explains the laws, by 
which the elementary particles of bodies act on each other, at indefinitely 
small distances ; the combinations or decompositions resulting from the 
affinity of their ultimate elements ; and the manner in which the operation 
of affinity is modified by various circumstances, capable of increasing or 
diminishing its action. Being chiefly an experimental science, it cannot, 
on that account, be classed with others more exclusively mathematical. ■ | 
The theories of heat and electricity may belong almost equally to Me- 
chanics or to Chemistry, according to the point of view in winch each 
of them is considered. 
The mode of proceeding adopted in all the departments of General Phy- 
sics is, to consider, either mentally or experimentally, only a small number 
of the properties of bodies at once, in order to reduce them to the greatest 
attainable simplicity; then, to calculate or discover the effects resulting 
therefrom ; and finally, to generalize and incorporate the laws of these pro- 
perties so as to form series of theorems; and, if possible, to resolve them 
into one universal principle, which will serve as a general expression for 
them all. 
1 ARTICULAR Physics, ot Natural History (for both of these terms are used 
indiscriminately), may [be extended so as to] include the particular appli- 
cation of the laws, ascertained by the different branches of General Physics, 
to the numerous and diversified created beings existing in nature, in order 
to explain the phenomena which each exhibits. When used in this ex- 
tensive signification, it also includes Astronomy; but this latter science, 
being fully elucidated by the light of Mechanics alone, is entirely subser- 
vient to its laws, and employs methods of investigation, too different from 
those admitted by Natural History, to be [extensively] cultivated by the 
same persons. It is usual, also, to include Meteorology among the 
branches of General Physics, and to confine Natural History to objects 
which do not admit of rigorous mathematical investigation, or precise 
measurement in all their parts. 
Geoloyy ranks next to Astronomy for the sublimity and depth of its investigations, 
and ought, logically, to be classed with Natural Philosophy. But the science is based 
upon so vast a mass of historical detail, and is still so much in its infancy, that it will 
long continue to be arranged with tho branches of Particular Physics. It contrasts 
with Astronomy in this respect, that while tho last-mentioned science leads us to ex- 
plore the infinity of space, Geology unfolds the secrets of the infinity of past time. 
In the one, tho present place of man is considered but as a point in tho vast regions 
of space, in the other, tho present time but as an instant in tho middle ot two infini- 
ties — time past and time to come. 
Natural History properly considers only the inorganic bodies called 
Minerals, and the various kinds of living beings [called Animals and Plants,] 
almost all of which are under the influence of laws, more or less uncon- 
nected with those of motion, of chemical affinity, and of various others, 
’ In this, and in similar passages, wo have thought it more agreeable to received 
usage to transpose the tenns Mechanics and Dynamics from tho position in which they 
stand in the original, the former being, as we conceive, the more general term -— 
Translator. ° 
