28 LESSON V. 



leopard, or the stripes upon the tiger, and when 

 the liquid exudes, it stains the shell, and the 

 uniformity of the pattern is the consequence of the 

 order in which the pores are placed in the mantle. 

 Now look at all these shells, and consider them 

 only in reference to their colours and markings. 



Child. The colours in some are very beauti- 

 ful, and there is great variety of patterns. 



Teacher. This is very true ; hut are they all 

 different? 



Child. No, there are some that have quite 

 the same pattern. 



Teacher. Then you may observe two points espe- 

 cially with regard to the markings ; what are they ? 



Child. That there is a very great variety, and 

 yet some are alike. 



Teacher. Do you suppose that their being 

 alike is accidental ? 



Child. Oh no, it could not have arisen from 

 chance. 



Teacher. Very true, nor can we fail to ob- 

 serve, that however great the variety may be in 

 individual specimens, all the works of creation 

 present a beautiful principle of order and uni- 

 formity. Prove if you quite understand what I 

 mean, by applying it to these shells. 



Child. There is a very great variety of pat- 

 terns and shapes, and yet they are all alike in 

 many respects. 



Teacher. They have undoubtedly all a general 

 resemblance, which enables you at once to de- 



