SEnsitive creatures may be distinguished into such as are counted more
- Imperfect; which have something analogous to blood,* 1.1 but are destitute of that red juice commonly so called, being therefore stiled EX∣ANGUIOUS, having either no leggs, or more legs then four,
- Perfect; whether
- FISHES, which have no legs, but fins answerable to them, being co∣vered with a naked skin, or with scales, whose proper motion is swimming.
- BIRDS, which have two leggs and two wings, whose bodies are co∣vered with feathers, being oviparous, whose proper motion is fly∣ing.
- BEASTS, which are for the most part, four-footed, hairy, and vivipa∣rous, excepting only some few which are without feet or hair, and are oviparous.
It may be observed to be amongst these (as it is amongst the other ranks of Beings,) that the more perfect kinds are the least numerous. Upon which account, Insects being the most minute and imperfect, and some of them (perhaps) of a spontaneous generation, are of the great∣est variety, tho by reason of their littleness, the several Species of them, have not hitherto been sufficiently enumerated or described, by those Authors who have particularly applyed themselves to this study.
There are sundry of these, as likewise of other Animals, which have no Latin names, as being unknown to the Romans, & there are sundry which have no English names, as being strangers to us. And amongst those that have English names, some are here described by their usual Appellations in Latin, because I knew not at present how to render them properly in Eng∣lish: And some there are peculiar to some coasts and rivers, and not commonly known elsewhere, which are hard to be enumerated.
As for fictitious Animals, as Syren, or Mermaid, Phoenix, Griffin, Harpy, Ruck, Centaur, Satyr, &c. there is no provision made for them in these tables, because they may be infinite; and besides, being but bare names, and no more, they may be expressed as Individuals are.