27 



heat and the cold ; which, in structure much resembling 

 the scale-armour assumed by man for very different ob- 

 jects, is, in fact, intermediate, exactly, between the fur of^ 

 beasts and the scales of fishes ; having the minute division 

 of the one, and the armour-like symmetry and succession 

 of the other. 



29. Not merely symmetry, observe, but extreme flatness. 

 I'eathers are smoothed down, as a field of corn by wind 

 with rain ; only the swathes laid in beautiful order. They 

 are fur, so structurally placed as to iuiply, and submit 

 to, the perpetually swift forward motion. In fact, I 

 have no doubt the Darwinian theory on the subject is that 

 the feathers of birds once stuck up all erect, like the 

 bristles of a brush, and have only been blown flat by 

 continual flying. 



Xay, w^e might even sufiiciently represent the general 

 maimer of conclusion in the Darwinian system by the 

 statement that if yon fasten a hair-brush to a mill-wheel, 

 with the handle forward, so as to develop itself into a 

 neck by moving always in the same direction, and within 

 continual hearing of a steam-whistle, after a certain num- 

 ber of revolutions the hair-brush will fall in love with the 

 whistle ; they will marry, lay an egg, and the produce 

 will be a nightingale. 



30. Whether, however, a hog's bristle can turn into a 

 feather or not, it is vital that you should know the present 

 difference between them. 



The scientific people will tell you that a feather is com- 



