66 Natural Theology. 



and inanimate nature. The ear thus beautifully 

 supplements the eye in revealing distant objects, and 

 thus connecting us with the world in which we live. 



The senses of taste and smell are more intimately 

 connected with food ; and the securing and select- 

 ing of this are of prime importance in our relations 

 to the world. We can gain no knowledge of the 

 taste of objects unless they are within our reach, 

 and we need none. But odors may be to us a 

 means of enjoying distant objects, or of avoiding 

 poisons floating in the air. There is no special 

 mechanism connected with either. There is simply 

 a power. And hardly less wonderful is the power 

 of a simple membrane to distinguish the number- 

 less flavors and odors, than the most complex ma- 

 chinery, although design can only be shown in the 

 use of these senses to man in multiplying and per- 

 fecting his relations to the world. 



The sense of touch supplements sight, by giving 

 us knowledge of solids as distinguished from sur- 

 faces, of hardness and temperature. So far as it is 

 needed for our protection, it is diffused over the 

 whole body; but for securing certain knowledge it is 

 keenest in the finger-tips in those organs best fit- 

 ted to trace out varied surfaces and curious forms. 

 When now we group the senses, what a marvellous 

 combination! Impressions of objects come darting 

 through space on the wings of light, crossing in ten 

 thousand lines, yet never mingling. The ear is 

 charmed with sounds. Odors and flavors delight 

 us, and touch protects from danger, or thrills us 



