354 THE REASON WHY! 



Order is Heaven's first law ; and, this confess'd, 

 Seme are, and must be, greater than the rest." POPE. 



1152. Wliy does the sea, contain a certain proportion oj 

 saline matter? 



These saline matters have the effect of raising the freezing point, 

 and diminishing the tendency to give off vapours ; and, also, 

 because it renders the water more buoyant, and thus makes it 

 better fitted to support the animals which it contains. 



[The Author finds himself reluctantly compelled to omit tl<& 

 various Orders comprising the Division MOLLUSCA. The Entomo- 

 logical series alone would supply matter for a highly interesting 

 volume ; and in tJie liope that he may be soon able to present such 

 a work to his readers, the Author will close his present labours, 

 with a few questions of leading application.] 



1153. Why has every race of animals its appointed enemy , 

 or enemies ? 



Because birth, life, and death, constitute the order of nature 

 appointed by a Divine Being. This order established, it may be 

 accepted that the Infinite Wisdom whose works exhibit such 

 marvellous adaptation and perfection, has chosen the best -means 

 to a necessary end. The death of an animal, as the prey of an 

 appointed superior, is doubtless a more rapid and painless process 

 than we, with a dread of death, conceive. 



1154. Paley reasons upon this proposition in a conclusive manner : " Perha-ps 

 there is no species of terrestrial animals whatever, which would not overrun the 

 earth if it were permitted to multiply in perfect safety ; or of a fish which would 

 not fill the ocean : at least, if any single species were left to their natural increase 

 without disturbance or restraint, the food of other species would be exhausted by 

 their maintenance, 



" It is necessary, therefore, that the effects of such prolific faculties be curtailed. 

 In conjunction with other checks and limits, all subservient to the same purpose, 

 re the thinnings which take place among animals by their action upon one another. 

 In some instances, we ourselves experience, very directly, the use of thcso hos- 

 tilities. One species of insects rids us of another species, or reduces their ranks ; a 

 third species, perhaps, keeps the second within bounds ; and birds or lizards are a 

 fence against the inordinate increase by which even these might infest us." 



To this may be added, that MAN alone appears to be without a natural enmny, 

 gifted with a special instinct and an organization intended to effect bi conque**. 



