STUDY X. 73 



mity of the body, in the head, as in the human 

 fpecies. Others, fuch as the tortoife, are flattened; 

 others, fuch as reptiles, are drawn out in form of 

 fpindles ; all of them, in a word, have forms in- 

 finitely varied. 



Vegetables themfelves, which feem entirely fub- 

 jected to the action of the elements, have configu- 

 rations diverfified without end. But, How comes 

 it that animals have in themfelves the principles of 

 fo many motions, fo entirely different ? Where- 

 fore has not gravity nailed them down to the fur- 

 face of the Earth ? They ought to crawl along it at 

 moft. How comes it to pafs, that the Laws which 

 regulate the courfe of the Stars ; thofe Laws whofe 

 influence has, in modern times, been made to ex- 

 tend even to the operations of the human foul, 

 ihould permit the birds to rife into the air, and 

 fly as they pleafe to the Weft, to the North, to 

 the South, notwithftanding the united powers of 

 çhe attraction, and of the projection of the Globe? 



It is conformity, adaptation to ufe, which has 

 regulated thofe Laws, and which has generalized, 

 or fufpended their effects,, in fubordination to the 

 neceffities of fenfible beings. Though Nature 

 employs an infinity of means, (he permits Man to 

 know only the end which (he has in view. Her 

 Works are fubjectêd to rapid diffolutions; but 



(he 



