VISION IN FISHES. 39 



indistinctness of vision in fishes seems incompatible 

 with the harmonious arrangements and wise adap- 

 tations of Providence, as manifested in every 

 object of creation. It seems strange that a 

 creature, provided with organs of the most rapid 

 motion, and using them freely and fearlessly both 

 in escaping from its enemies and in avoiding the 

 numerous obstructions which constantly present 

 themselves in the element in which it lives, should 

 yet be deficient in organs so indispensable to this 

 freedom of motion as those of seeing. The sight 

 of birds is exquisitely acute ; and therefore it is 

 no wonder that, in their rapid flights through the 

 air, they should never come in contact with one 

 another, or with the obstacles which we constantly 

 see them avoid: but it certainly would be a 

 strange anomaly if fish the motions of which 

 are still more rapid than those of birds should 

 also escape similar mischances, as we all know 

 they do, and yet possess only the " indistinctness of 

 vision" ascribed to them by Professor Rennie. It 

 seems unnatural to associate, in the same creature, 

 rapidity of motion with defective sight ; and, until 

 such an association is admitted by all naturalists, 

 or at least has preponderating evidence in its 

 favour, and is found not at variance with the 

 general laws of nature, we do not see why plain- 

 p 4 



