146 SPECIES NOT 



in quadrupeds. Nuttall states that a sparrow- 

 hawk will see a lark at twenty times the distance 

 that such an object could be seen by man. A 

 kite will descend from a height beyond our range 

 of vision, straight down upon a lizard, field-mouse, 

 or bird; and with this prodigious range of vision 

 the bird can make its eye assume the precise form 

 suited to light and distance, the organ thus an- 

 swering the purpose of a self-adjusting telescope, 

 with a shade for examining the most luminous 

 and dazzling objects ; and hence the eagle is often 

 seen to ascend to the higher regions of the at- 

 mosphere, gazing on the unclouded sun as on an 

 ordinary and familiar object." (Man. Introd., 

 p. 5.) 



If again, as Nuttall points out, nature had left 

 them as short-sighted as we are, giving them at 

 the same time the great agility and strength 

 which they possess, their latent powers would have 

 availed them nothing. "We may then in general 

 consider the celerity with which an animal moves, 

 as a just indication of the perfection of its 



vision." 



And what do we really see? Why not that 

 the more perfectly organized quadruped the strong 

 in the struggle for existence has the most perfect 

 eye but the bird, whose necessities require a 

 more exquisite and lengthened vision, has that 

 organ given it by the Creator in the form best 

 adapted to its existence! And are AVC to believe 

 that this is done by special creation, or by the 

 operation of .an unknown la, w, acting, we know 



