many thousand species of insects and birds; the millions of terrestrial animals in every part of the globe, that have their abode in the forests, in the fields, on the mountains, and in the valleys, in the caverns, and in the holes of the rocks, in trees, and in the earth; the innumerable shoals of fish that inhabit the ocean, the scas, the rivers, and the brooks; the infinite variety of insects, in the air, in plants, and on animals; each of which daily finds an ample support, and an abundance of food; we shall be lost in admiration at the wisdom of the munificent Creator, who nourishes them all, and gives to them severally the aliment most adapted to their nature. From this wonderful diversity in the food of animals, nothing that nature produces is useless, but tends to the support of some one of her numerous progeny. From all this we may draw a most happy conclusion; that if God thus provides for creatures destitute of reason, he will not do less for man, whom he has favoured with the blessed gift of reason, and to whom these animals are subservient.

MAY XIII.

Senses of Animals.

In every animal the organs of sense are arranged in a manner most conformable to their nature and destination. By means of the senses they take cognizance of objects, whether near or at a distance; and through them they are enabled to provide for their wants, and to shun the dangers with which they are threatened. That sense by which animals are able to form an idea of material objects by touching them is called feeling, which is chiefly resident in the extremities of numerous nerves covered by the skin.

The organs of taste are the tongue and the palate; the savoury impressions are made upon the nervous papillæ, which are the immediate instruments both of taste and feeling, between which two senses there is considerable analogy.

The organ of smell is the delicate membrane which lines the inside of the nose; and by means of the ramifications of

the nerves upon the membrane, the odoriferous vapours that float in the air are received, and those animals which require a more delicate and subtle smell have their olfactory organs more perfect. Worms seem to be destitute of this sense, as are in all probability fish and insects; though the antennæ of the latter may serve them instead. By means of smell, animals are enabled to hunt out their food, to select that which is most suitable for them, and, by being apprized of the approach of their enemies, to preserve themselves from danger.

By hearing, animals become susceptible of the vibrations of air; but the structure of the ear is not alike in all: some, as the lizard, have two tympanums; others are destitute of several parts common to the rest. Birds and fish have not that part called the meatus auditorius, and worms and insects are completely deaf.

The eyes are the organs of seeing. Quadrupeds, fowls, fish and amphibious animals, have two eyes, one on each side of the head. Insects are generally furnished with more than two. The spider and the scorpion have eight; and many possess them by thousands, commonly collected in two orbits. In a fly sixteen thousand eyes have been enumerated; in a beetle, six thousand three hundred and sixty-two; and in a butterfly, thirty-four thousand six hundred and fifty. Fish have no aqueous humour; but the crystalline lens is nearly globular.

All the organs of sense are disposed in a manner not only most suitable to the structure of the body of the animal, but also to answer its different necessities. To be convinced of this, a few observations will suffice. As the eyes of many insects are immoveable, and consequently in many cases would be useless, nature has given them antennæ, by means of which they are informed of what would be injurious to them, or what might otherwise have escaped their sight. The eyes of fish are disposed with equal wisdom. An eye that projected far out of the head would be very inconveni. ent to them, and we find their cornea is nearly flat; to re

medy the defects of this, the crystalline humour is globular, which in most other animals is lenticular, and much more flat. Though eyes are generally spherical, there is great diversity in their figure; and their situation in the head is various, according to the different destination and necessities of the animal. In man, who sees little but what is straight before him, the eyes are situated in the fore part of the head, but so arranged that they can receive impressions from the whole semicircle of objects before him. In birds, the eye is so placed, that it can take in at one view nearly the whole circle of objects around it, by which means they can provide their food more easily, and are less liable to be surprised by enemies.

The ear of man has that form which best suits his erect posture; in birds it is particularly adapted to occasion no impediment to their flight, and for this purpose it does not project, but is close, to allow of their rapid passage through the air. Thus, though we know but a small part of the wonderful mechanism of animals, we see enough to convince us of the wisdom displayed in their organization, and in the arrangement of their organs of sense. And the more information we gain, and the more discoveries we make upon this interesting subject, the more cause we find to admire the wonders of nature, and to adore the goodness of God. Let us not then treat any animal, however insignificant, with contempt or indifference; they all bear the stamp of divine impression, and like ourselves have one common Parent, who is God over all.

MAY XIV.

Order observed in the Succession of Flowers.

EVERY plant springs up in the earth in the order which is prescribed to it. There is a time appointed for one to unfold its leaves, for another to flower, and a third to fade and die. The snow-drop shewed its delicate flower above the ground several weeks since, long before the trees ventured to unfold their leaves, even whilst ice and snow still covere

the earth. The crocus next appeared, timidly shrinking from the impetuous winds; at the same time were seen the sweet violot and the auricula. These were the joyful harbingers of the numerous flowers that now refresh us.

At this period also a succession of flowers is observed, and every month exhibits new ornaments peculiar to itself. The tulip begins to develope its rich leaves and flowers; and speedily the beautiful anemone will form its full round cup, the ranunculus expand all the magnificence of its leaves, and the opening rose spread its beauties to the morning sun, and fill the air with its perfuming fragrance; nor will the elegant pink, with its graceful charms, be wanting in the beauteous assemblage

By the wise arrangement displayed in the regular succession of flowers we derive the greatest advantages; for if they all flourished at the same time we should either have them in excessive abundance, or we should experience a total privation. But now, that each species has its determinate time and season, we can contemplate them at our leisure, and enjoy them with greater convenience; we can dwell longer upon their beauties, and examine each singly without the confusion of numbers. And by the constant succession of flowers we do not suffer from the shortness of their continuance; for the pain of seeing one die is solaced by the budding of another, and our gardens during a great part of the year present, as well as attract, the face of youth and beauty. The field of nature is open to all, and he who prefers the sting of thorns may gratify his inclination, as well as he who delights in seeing flowers and sweet enjoyment attend upon all his steps. As flowers succeed to each other, so do the individuals composing the human race; as some are born, others are returning to their native dust; and as some are just beginning to be useful to the world, others are leaving the great theatre of life, whilst new actors begin to play their parts.

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MAY XV.

Zoophites.

ZOOPHITES may be considered as insects partaking both of the nature of an animal and a plant. By their external configuration, their remaining in one place, and their producing themselves by buds and seeds, they very much resemble plants; like which they also may be propagated by grafts and slips. Their animal nature is only known by their sensibility and voluntary motion. The greater part of zoophites put forth a kind of root in the sea and waters where they live; some of them grow in stony calcareous substances, and others are covered by a shell, which resembles horn, whilst many are soft and fleshy. They all possess in common the power of self-producing new Zoophites; and whilst the young ones are attached to the parent stalk, they form but one animal; but as soon as they are separated from the stem, they have a proper existence by themselves.

Zoophites also multiply themselves in a way very similar to that of plants. They form a species of germ containing a young zoophite, which grows for some time on the stalk, and, at length falling off, becomes a complete animal. They do not appear to possess either brain, heart, veins, or arteries; but their whole body, from the beginning to the extremity, forms a hallow tube, which may be regarded as one continued stomach or intestinal canal. By the discovery of this humble class of beings in the creation, in the beginning of the seventeenth century, the volume of natural history has increased, and our ideas of the gradation of beings extended. The links between animal and vegetable nature are extremely imperceptible, and difficult to define. The only distinguishing characteristic is supposed to be, that plants have neither sensation nor motion, whilst every species of animal both feels and moves; but the shades between these are so finely drawn, as in many instances to be impenetrable to the researches of the curious, who often assert for truth, discoveries which are only within the probability of conjecture.