364 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



mity, according to which all her plans are adjuft- 

 ed. Thus, after having contrafled, with the 

 ground on which they live, the animals capable 

 of making their efcape from every danger by their 

 ftrength, or their agility, fliehas confounded thofe 

 whofe llownefs, or weaknefs, would expofe them to 

 the affaults of their enemies. The fnail, which is 

 deftitute of fight, is of the colour of the bark of 

 the trees which he gnaws, or of the wall in which 

 he takes refuge. 



Flat fiflies, which are indifferent fwimmers, fuch 

 as the turbot, the flounder, the plaice, the burt, 

 the fole, and feveral others, which are cut out, as 

 it were, from a thin plank, becaufe they were def- 

 tined to a fedentary life, clofe to the bottom of the 

 Sea, are of the colour of thefands where they find 

 their nourifhment, being fpotted, like the beach, 

 with gray, yellow, black, red, and brown. They 

 are thus fpeckled, I admit, only on one fide ; but 

 to fuch a degree are they poffeffed of the feeling of 

 this refemblance, that when they find themfelves 

 inclofed within the parks formed on the ftrand to 

 entrap them, and obferving the tide gradually re- 

 tiring, they bury their fins in the fand, expefting 

 the return of the tide, and prefent to the eye only 

 their deceitful fide. It has fuch a perfeâ; refem- 

 blance to the ground on which they fquat, to con- 

 ceal themfelves, that it would be impoflible for 



the 



