17. Are monsters really a distinct species? Thirdly, It ought to be determined whether those we call monsters be
really a distinct species, according to the scholastic notion of the word species; since it is certain that everything
that exists has its particular constitution.
And yet we find that some of these monstrous productions have few or
none of those qualities which are supposed to result from, and accompany, the essence of that species from
whence, they derive their originals, and to which, by their descent, they seem to belong.