Harmony of Adaptation. 79 



impossible to consider the mutual relations of man 

 as a physical being, and this world, to each other^ 

 without recognising design in the varied adjustments 

 design involving the highest wisdom to devise, 

 the 5t skill t () execute, and showing the 



greatest benevolence as characteristic of the de- 

 signer. 



It was impossible for us to trace this relationship 

 without having thrust upon us the varied adaptations 

 having reference to a higher nature than is possessed 

 by any mere animal. This higher nature of man 

 lires a separate discussion ; but for the present 

 we pass to the consideration of the lower forms of 

 animal life, and of the vegetable kingdom, to show 

 their adaptations to the world, the adaptations of the 

 two kingdoms to each other, and of the parts of 

 each individual to meet its own wants and neces- 

 sities. 



We have among the lower animals all the general 

 adaptations which we find in man, but varied accord- 

 ing to the peculiar position which the animal is to 

 occupy. It is impossible to study any one of them 

 without constantly learning more and more of the 

 perfection of its relations to the world. Each one 

 is not only provided for in general, as an animal, 

 but he is specially provided for as that particular 

 kind of animal. It is impossible to point out one 

 in which continued observation has not detected 

 increased harmony of adaptation between the world 

 and the wants of the animal, as determined by the 

 very idea of his structure. When we have so far 



