ANIMAL M&CHANISM. 33$ 



of the most striking correspondences of animal or- 

 ganization, with its destined purposes. 



Every animal frame, considered as a mass, exhibits 

 a number of properties which scepticism itself could 

 scarcely forbear to acknowledge as indubitable evi- 

 dences, not only of a regular plan, but of consummate 

 accuracy in carrying it into execution. 



In the first place, my dear Sir, consider the exact 

 correspondency of the two sides of each animal. You 

 see the right side answering to the left, eye to eye, 

 leg to leg/wing to wing, one side of the face to the 

 othV.r, with a precision which human art finds ex- 

 ceedingly difficult to imitate. The exact resemblance 

 of the two eyes of each individual, considering the 

 curious and compound structure of this organ, with 

 the various and delicate shades of colour, with which 

 the iris is tinged, is a circumstance in the construc- 

 tion of animal bodies, which can never he too much 

 admired, and which is rendered still more wonderful 

 by the difference observable, not only in the differ- 

 ent species, but also between particulars of the same 

 species: often thousand eyes, it is questionable whe- 

 ther one could be matched except by that which is 

 placed on the opposite side of the same head,, or whe- 

 ther it would be possible to dispose them in suitable 

 pairs by any other collection or arrangement than 

 that which actually prevails. 



The genera! disposition of the external and inter- 

 nal parts, which constitute the animal frame, is a 

 proof of its being the work -of an infinitely W";SP 

 Being, You know, my dear Sir, that the internal 

 parts are tender, soft, intricate, and pliable, so that 

 their constant action which is necessary to life, may 

 not, by any obstruction or rigidity, be impeded. All 

 th.o internal operations are going on with regularity, 

 while the body itself, the external case, which holds 

 together the whole complex machinery, is tossed and 

 jolted about in every manner, and with every degree 

 of agitation. Observe this, my dear Sir, and then 

 consider how well every part must be secured, hew 

 carefully, surrounded with safeguards, how well pack- 



