176 CONCHOLOGIST’S COMPANION. 
liar habits of the Patelle, or the purposes for which 
they are designed. They are placed on the boundary 
line, between those shells which are furnished with a 
regular spire, and those that have none; and such is the 
accordance of one part with another, that the shells 
of the third division, with a recurved apex, form a 
natural link between the Haliotis, or Sea-ear, and 
the genus Patella, of which they are an interesting 
portion. For the Most High has adorned the 
excellent productions of his wisdom, and so admi- 
rably adjusted them, that every part of the vast 
creation constitutes one beautiful and perfect whole. 
To this splendid superstructure, nothing can be 
added; neither can any thing be taken from it, with- 
out producing a chasm in creation, which, however 
imperceptible to us, would materially affect the 
general harmony of nature. All things were made 
by Him, and without him cannot any thing subsist; 
besides, it seems as if he designed to teach us by 
the admirable arrangement of his creatures, that the 
different gradations in society, are designed by 
his providence, and appointed for our good. Keep- 
ing this in view, we contemplate with redoubled 
interest, the infinite variety of shapes and species, 
through which the world of life progressively ad- 
vances, before a creature is formed, complete in all 
its parts. Thus, in the instance of the solitary 
