CLASSIFICATION OF ANIMALS. 
230 
Having considered the distinction between inorganic and organic 
substances, we will proceed to a division which may be more famil¬ 
iar to you; that by which the matter upon our globe is ranged under 
three kingdoms—the Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral. 
We find it somewhat difficult to explain the difference between 
the different kinds of organized beings, viz. animals and vegetables; 
the lines of distinction often seem to fade so gradually, that we can¬ 
not well decide where the animal ends, and the vegetable begins. 
This difficulty may seem at first somewhat strange, as you may 
perhaps never have been at a loss to tell an animal from a vegetable r. 
you would certainly know how to distinguish between a nightingale 
and a rose, or between an ox and an oak; but these are animals 
and vegetables in a comparatively perfect state. 
The perfect animal you see has the power to move about, to seek 
the nourishment most agreeable ; you perceive it uttering audible 
sounds, possessing sensation and apparent consciousness. The 
plant, on the contrary, is confined to a particular spot, having no 
other nourishment than substances which themselves come in con¬ 
tact with it; exhibiting no consciousness, nor, to common observa¬ 
tion, any sensation. It is only when we examine with close atten¬ 
tion the various phenomena in the vegetable and animal kingdoms, 
that we learn to doubt as to the exact boundaries by which they 
are separated. 
The division of nature into three kingdoms, animal, vegetable, and 
mineral, is very ancient, and appears at first to be clear and precise. 
Minerals destitute of life increase by the accumulation of new 
particles. 
Vegetables grow, produce seeds which contain the elements of fu¬ 
ture plants like themselves, and then die. 
Animals unite to the properties of vegetables, the feeling of their 
own existence; or as Linnaeus has said, “ Stones grow , vegetables 
grow and live , animals grow , live, and feel.” Although this simple 
view of the works of creation is pleasing, it is not satisfactory; be¬ 
cause we are not able to decide where, in the vast series of organ¬ 
ized beings, sensation ceases. 
That you may the better understand what is meant by the grada¬ 
tions of animal life, we will present you with a sketch of the classifi¬ 
cation of animals. The study of this department of nature you 
have already been told is termed Zoology. 
A very general and simple classification of animals is as follows 
<c Vertebral animals, having backbones. 
Avertebral animals, destitute of backbones. 
Vertebral animals are divided into, 
1. Quadrupeds. The science of which has no popular name. 
It includes four-footed animals; as ox, dog, mouse. 
2. Birds. The science of which is called ornithology. It includes 
the feathered tribe; as pigeon, goose, wren. 
3. Amphibious Animals. The science of which is called amphib- 
iology. It includes those cold-blooded animals which are capable of 
living on dry land, or in the water ; as tortoise, lizard, serpent, frog. 
4. Fishes. The science of which is called ichthyology. It in¬ 
cludes all aquatic animals which have gills and fins; as shad, trout, 
sturgeon, eel. 
Three kingdoms of nature^Distinctio’n between the different kinds of organ¬ 
ized beings—The perfect animal—The plant—Minerals—Vegetables—Animals—Zo~ 
ology—Division of animals into two classes—How many classes of Vertebral 
animals? 
