INTRODUCTION. 13 



fied by its form. Hence, while one race of animals revels in blood and 

 slanghter, another knows only peace and tranquillity. 



Some are ingenious architects from their origin. Having founded 

 a dwelling, they never cease enlarging it for their own accommodation, 

 wherem they employ the numerous organs incident to their form. The 

 architectural disposition of others is exercised only for behoof of their 

 young, when the employment of the organs peculiar to their form ceasing^ 

 it is resumed with an approaching brood in a succeeding year. 



It is thus appointed in regular order, by the Power which dictated 

 the laws for preserving the Creation. 



No external indications are presented, whereby the disposition of 

 living creatures is to be at once detected. Our knowledge of it must be 

 gathered from time and experience. 



We find the natural propensities unequally bestowed, and irregu- 

 larly exercised. What we believe a structure denoting refined skill, 

 may proceed, on investigation, from natural causes^ as when a tubular 

 dwelling, fashioned by its tenant, forms the most regular cylinder, though 

 resulting simply from the necessary revolution of the animal while adding 

 to its dimensions. 



Perhaps we incUne to assign too much to the sagacity of animals, 

 and we are more surprised than we ought to be at some of their actions. 

 But if reasoning is dependent on comparison, many animals certainly 

 enjoy that faculty to a certain extent, notwithstanding such a privilege be 

 most unwillingly admitted by mankind. 



Wliatever be the condition of a living creature, whether dwelling 

 in the air or in the waters, or in the flesh of others ; whether its organs 

 appear defective or redundant, the power of the Creator has adapted its 

 circumstances for its place in the creation. 



Overpassing many grand, many wonderful, many sublime arrange- 

 ments, which can have had no other source than the Will of Omnipo- 

 _tence, — that which first bade the lightnings flash and the thunders roll, — 

 nothing from the highest to the lowest — from the greatest to the least, — 

 betrays disorder, or interrupts the harmonies of the Universe. 



If such conclusions be justly deduced from contemplating merely 



