Volume 1

A history of the earth, and animated nature / By Oliver Goldsmith. With an introductory view of the animal kingdom, tr. from the French by Baron Cuvier. And copious notes embracing accounts of new discoveries in natural history: And a life of the author by Washington Irving. And a carefully prepared index to the whole work.

  • Oliver Goldsmith
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A history of the earth, and animated nature / By Oliver Goldsmith. With an introductory view of the animal kingdom, tr. from the French by Baron Cuvier. And copious notes embracing accounts of new discoveries in natural history: And a life of the author by Washington Irving. And a carefully prepared index to the whole work. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    In many species earthy laminae or plates, called shells, are secreted from the skin, and their position and manner of production are analogous to those of the mucous bodies. The nervous system is placed within this covering along with the viscera; ^ and the former is composed of numerous scattered masses, connected by nervous 1 filaments. The largest of these masses are placed upon the oesophagus, or gullet, I and are distinguished by the term brain. Of the four senses which are confined to [ particular organs, Ave can discover tx’aces only of taste and of sight, but the latter is j very often found wanting. In only one family, however, there are exhibited the j organs of hearing. We always find a complete circulating system, and particular | organs for respiration. The functions of digestion and of secretion are performed in a j manner very nearly as complicated as in the vertebrated animals. Animals possessed of this second form are called Molluscous Animals {Animalia mollusca) [from the Latin, mollis, soft]. | Although the general plan adopted in the organization of their external parts is i not so uniform as in the vertebrated animals, yet, in so far as regards the internal [ structure and functions, there is at least an equal degree of mutual resemblance The cuttle-fish, oyster, slug, and garden-snail, are familiar instances of this class of animals. j 3. Articulata—Articulated Animals. The third form is that Avhich may be observed in insects and worms. Their ner- ! vous system consists of two long cords, extending the entire length of the intestinal canal, and dilated at intervals by various knots, or ganglions. The first of these knots, placed upon the oesophagus or gullet, and called the brain, is scarcely larger than any of the others, which may be found arranged along the intestinal canal. It communicates with the other ganglions by means of small filaments, or threads, which encircle the oesophagus like a. necklace. The covering of their body is divided into a certain number of ring-like segments, by transverse folds, having their integu- ments sometimes hard, sometimes soft, but always with the muscles attached to the interior of the envelop. Their bodies have frequently articulated limbs attached to the sides, but they are also very frequently without any. We shall assign the term Articulated Animals {Animalia articulata) to denote this numerous division, in which Ave first observe the transition from the circulating system in cylindrical vessels of the higher animals, to a mere nutrition, by imbibing or sucking in the alimentary substances; and the corresponding transition, from res- piration through particular organs, to one performed by means of tracheae, or air- cells, dispersed throughout the body. The senses most strongly marked among them are those of taste and sight. One single family exhibits the organ of hearing. The jaws of the Articulated Animals are always lateral, but sometimes they are alto- gether wanting. i As instances of this form, we may mention the earth-worm, leech, crabs, lobsters, spiders, beetles, grasshoppers, and flies. From the circumstance of their coverings, or limbs, being divided, or i jointed, they derive the name of “ articulated,” from the Latin aHicvlus, a little joint. | I 4. Radiata—Radiated Animals. | i To the fourth and last fonn, which includes all the animals commonly called Zoophytes, may be assigned the name of Radiated Animals {AnimaUa radiata).. In all the other,classes the organs of motion and of sensation are arranged symmetrically on both sides of a medial line or axis; while the front and back are quite dissimilar. In this class, on the contrary, the organs of motion and of sensation are arranged i like rays around a centre; and this is the case-even when there are but two series, for then both faces are similar. They approach nearly to the uniform structure of i plants; and -Ave do not ahvays perceive very distinct traces of a nervous system, nor of distinct organs for sensation. In some we can scarcely find any signs of a circula- tion. Their organs for respiration are almost ahvays arranged on the external sur- face of their bodies. The greater number possess, for intestines, a simple bag or sac, Avith but one entrance; and the loAvest families exhibit nothing but a kind of uni- form pulp, endoAved only Avith motion and sensation.