On the Form of tlie Ark of Noah. 317 



increases with the depth of Jading, insomuch that, in very deep 

 ladings, the centre of gravity of the floating body may be very 

 easily brought below that of the displaced fluid, in which case 

 the stabihty would be absolute in every rate of lading. ' ' 



A remark may be added in regard to another point ; arid 

 that is, the means of obtaining ventilation. It would be difii- 

 cult to conceive any form of vessel better fitted for securing 

 this, in safety from the influx of the waves, above which the 

 ridge of the ark would still be greatly elevated at very consi- 

 derable depths of lading. 



Remarks on Auduh&iCs " Birds of America *,'' and " OrnitholO' 

 gical Biography -^-^ 



All objects of nature are capable of exciting intense interest 

 in the mind of man, the moment he begins to look upon them 

 as fragments of the vast and wondrous machinery of which 

 he himself forms a part. It were difficult to say what collec- 

 tive portion of this magnificent system ought most to attract 

 our attention, for all its parts are so mutually connected, that 

 it is impossible to obtain any just conception of one, without 

 extending our view to others. 



Different minds are differently organized, or are diff*erently 

 biassed, one preferring this, another that, branch of study ; and 

 as no mind is capable of grasping the whole, the arrangement 

 is obviously beneficial both to the individual and to the mass. 

 Setting aside the silly and short-sighted spirit, that induces one 

 to extol the department to which he has devoted himself, the man 

 of truly philosophic mind views with pleasure the labours of all 

 who endeavour to catch a glimpse of the order that has prevailed 

 in the collocation and arrangement of the mundane objects, whicn, 

 being the only realities from which the unaided efforts of man 

 can derive knowledge fitted for enabling him to attain the ab- 

 stractions alone suited to the gratification of his intellectual 

 powers, are to him the only legitimate objects of study. 

 Whether it be the resplendent gem, buried deep in the solid 



• The Birds of America, from original drawings, bj J. J. Audubon, 

 F. R. S. E. and L., &c, folio. 



•f* Ornithological Biography, or an Account of the Habits of the Birds of the 

 United States, by J. J. Audubon, F. It S. E. and L., &c. one voL royal 8vo. 



