VERMES, in natural history, the last class of the animal kingdom, according to the Limnean system. The animals in this class are not merely those commonly known by the name of worms, but like wise those which have the general cha racter of being" slow in motion, of a soft substance, extremely tenacious of life, capable Of re-producing such parts of their body as may have been taken away or destroyed, and inhabiting moist places. There are five orders in this class, viz. the Infusoria Tcstacea Intestina Zoophyta Mollusca These animals are generally considered as the lowest in the scale of animated be ing. The simplicity of their form, the humility of their station, and the low de gree of sense and motion which they seem to enjoy, have rendered them objects of but little attention to mankind in general, excepting as they contribute to the sup ply of their wants, or to render them selves formidable, by the pain and distress which they occasion to those bodies which ' nature seems to have destined for their habitation. But, to the curious investiga tor of the ways of heaven, every part of the vast creation becomes interesting; and this class of animated beings has, in later times, attracted a considerable share of attention. To this they seem fully enti
tled, if we consider the number of animals which are included under the general name of worms ; if we observe the simpli city of form in some of them, and the com plicated structure of others ; in short; if we reflect on the various modes in which they are propagated, and on the-surpris ing faculty, which many of thempossess, of spontaneous reproduction ; the imagi nation will be astonished with their num- • ber and variety, and confounded by their wonderful properties. The waters are peopled with myriads of animated beings, which, though invisible to-our unassisted eyes, are unquestionably endowed with organs as perfect as the largest animals, since, like these, they re-produce others similar to themselves, and hold in the scale of nature a rank as little equivocal, though less obvious and obtrusive. The elegance of form, and beauty of colour, which some of the " molluscs," and " zoo-. phyta" possess, cannot fail to render them.
objects of admiration to the most indiffe rent observer.