330 NOTES. 



the absorption may continue to be effected directly from wnthout, although the 

 opening by which the nutritive matters penetrate usually into the digestive 

 cavity, is obstructed and obliterated." — Ann. des Sciences Nat. Part. Zool.,Vol. 

 i. p. 25-31. 



" And novv^, shoidd it be asked, granting all this to be true, to what end has so 

 much labour been bestowed in the demonstration ? I can only answer, that as 

 to me these disquisitions have opened new scenes of wonder and astonishment, 

 in contemplating how variously, how extensively life is distributed through the 

 universe of things : so it is possible, that the facts here related, and these in- 

 stances of nature animated in a part hitherto unsuspected, may excite the like 

 pleasing ideas in others ; and in minds more capacious and penetrating, lead to 

 farther discoveries, farther proofs (should such be wanting,) that One infinitely 

 wise, good, all-powerful Being has made, and still upholds, the whole of what 

 is good and perfect ; and hence we may learn, that, if creatures of so low an 

 order in the great scale of nature are endued with faculties that enable them to 

 fill up their sphere of action with such propriety ; we likewise, who are advan- 

 ced so many gradations above them, owe to ourselves, and to Him who made us 

 and all things, a constant application to acquire that degree of rectitude and 

 perfection, to which we also are endued with faculties of attaining." — Ellis. 



