STUDY X. 265 



caufe it is the firft; feeling which we endeavour to 

 gratify in examining natural objedts. Nay, there is 

 a connediion fo intimate between tiie phyfical cha- 

 radter of thofe objeds, and the inftinct of every 

 being poflefTed of fenfibihty, that a colour, fimply, 

 is fufficient to roufe the paffions of animals. A 

 red objed puts the bull into a rage, and fuggefts 

 to moft fowls and filhes the idea of prey. The 

 objedls of Nature difplay, in Man, a feeling of a 

 higher order, indépendant of his wants ; it is that 

 of conformity. It is by means of the multiplied 

 conformities of Nature that Man has formed his 

 own reafon ; for reafon means nothing elfe bun 

 the relation, or conformity, of things that exift. 

 Thus, for example, if I examine a quadruped, 

 the eye-lids, which it can raife or let fall, at 

 pleafure, prefent to me conformities with light; 

 when I look at the form of his feet, I fee a con- 

 formity to the foil which he is defigned to inhabit. 

 It is impoffible for me to conceive a determinate 

 idea of thefe, without combining, on the fubjed:, 

 various feelings of conformity, or of the want of 

 it. Nay, the moft material objeds, and fuch as 

 have not, in ftridnefs of fpeech, any decided form, 

 cannot prefent themfelves tous without thofe intel- 

 ledual relations. A ruftic grotto, or a fteep rock, 

 pleafe or give pain, according as they prefent to 

 us the ideas of repofe or of obfcurity, of perfpec- 

 tive or oï precipice. 



Animals 



