THE EEASON WHY. 285 



"And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their 



kind, and everything that creepeth upon the earth after his kind : 



and God saw that it was good." GENESIS i. 



1134. Why is the lachrymal secretion of the horse's eye 

 thick and glutinous ? 



Because, as his eye is large, and constantly exposed to dust on 

 journies, it is provided with a viscid secretion, which cleanses the 

 eye, and more instantly and securely removes the dust, than a 

 watery secretion would. 



1135. Why does the lower bill of the sea-crow project 

 beyond the upper one ? 



Because the bird obtains his food by skimming along the water, 

 into which he dips his bill, and lifts his food out. 



1136. Why do the mandibles of the cross-bill overlap 

 each other ? 



Because the bird requires a peculiar bill, to enable it to split 

 seeds into halves, and to tear the open cones of the fir-tree. 



1137. W hy are the tails of fishes so much larger than their 

 fins? 



Because their tails are their chief instruments of motion, while 

 their fins are employed simply to direct their progress, and steady 

 their movements. 



1138. Why have oxen, and other quadrupeds a tough 

 ligament called the "pax-wax" running from their backs to 

 their heads ? 



Because their heads are of considerable weight; and having 

 frequent occasion to lift them, they are provided with an elastic 

 ligament, which is fastened at the middle of their backs, while its 

 other extremity is attached to the head. This enables them to 

 raise their heads easily ; otherwise the effort to do so would be a 

 work of great labour. To the horse, the pax-wax acts as a natural 

 bearing-rein, assisting it to hold its head in that position which adds 

 to the grace and beauty of the animal. 



In carving beef, this ligament may be seen passing along the vertebra of the 

 neck, the chuck, and the fore ribs. 



