[ '77 1 



the critcrions of its fupcrior excellence. BefidcS^ 

 thcconftant pra6^ice of moft farmers in the king- 

 dom, who with the grcatcfl: fecurity feed theif 

 meadows in the fpring, when the grals (hoots quick 

 and is full of juices, militates diredliy againft this 

 opinion. 



Let us now confider whether another caufc may 

 not be alTigned, more reconcileable with the vari- 

 ous accounts we receive of this diforden If our 

 arguments, however fpecious, arc contradictory to 

 known fads, inftead of conducing us in the plafin 

 paths of truth, they leave us in the mazes of errof 

 and uncertainty. 



'Each fpecies of vegetables and animals has its 

 peculiar foil, fituation, and food, afligned to it. 

 Taught by unerring in{lin(5l " the fparrow findeth 

 *' her a houfe, the fwallow a nefl, and the ftork in 

 " the heavens knoweth her appointed time."— 

 The whole feathered tribe, indeed, difplay a won- 

 derful fagacity and variety in the choice and ftruc- 

 ture of their habitations. Nor can it be doubted 

 ^at the minuted reptile has its fixed laws» ap- 

 l^ointed by Him.whol& "tender mercies afc ov«r 

 "aUhii.work«." 



The 



