220 AUGUST. 



might do well But these will not do with an ordinary 

 collection of rock-loving things. 



What Crantz says of the coast of Greenland is not 

 less true of our own rocky sea-margins. " These shores 

 are the best and grandest school for the study of fishes. 

 Here the naturalist may attain a fundamental acquaint- 

 ance with them, and discover the nature and instincts 

 of each species. It would prove a spacious field of 

 observation for a curious, inquiring mind, which would 

 often fall into a train of profound meditation, as he 

 surveyed the nature and function and relations of the 

 inhabitants of the vast ocean, from the minutest insect, 

 scarce perceptible to the eye, to the monstrous whales, 

 together with the seemingly fabulous great sea-monsters, 

 and the equally inconceivable zoophytes, or" [as then 

 supposed] " half-animal sea productions. Yet, after all, 

 the most speculative and penetrating human mind will 

 never be able to pry so deep into the manifold wisdom 

 of God in his creatures as to search them out to per- 

 fection ; even the meanest of them, and such as are 

 before every one's eyes. But, for that very reason, be- 

 cause we are so imperfect, we are never satiated with 

 the study of nature, nor weary of rendering that praise 

 to the Lord of Nature which He expects from His 

 creatures." 



