126 LECTURE X. 



most exquisitely formed, and to possess all 

 those functions which are necessary to its well- 

 being. I wish to impress this strongly on 

 your minds, that you may be able to view 

 Almighty God in His works, and thus learn 

 to love and admire Him as the Author of all 

 good. Having stated this, I will now pro- 

 ceed to give you some curious instances of 

 instinct amongst what are called the inferior 

 animals, that is, of animals which are sup- 

 posed to be almost without sense or power of 

 motion. 



You are all of you acquainted with the com- 

 mon sea-hog, or sea-egg. To look at it you 

 would suppose it to be without sense, or the 

 possibility of regarding external objects by sight 

 or hearing ; yet it will travel up the rods of 

 a crab-pot, enter the opening, descend within, 

 mount again to the situation of the bait, and 

 choose the one which pleases it best. 



Again, the star-fishes seem very inactive, and 

 without intelligence; yet they display sagacity 

 in the discovery and choice of food, as well 

 as in the manner of seeking it, and also alter 

 their habits in different seasons. 



You might suppose that cuttle-fishes were 



