f CONCLUSION. 327 



foresight in our affairs, of attachment to our domestic 

 duties, and of humanity to our kind; will make us consider 

 them, not as intruders on our labours, but as agreeable 

 associates in our enjoyments. To produce contentment 

 with our lot, and to instruct us not to set too high a value 

 on our exterior accomplishments and graces, it may be 

 useful to reflect, that those birds whose beauty of tints 

 excites our admiration are generally destitute of harmo- 

 nious voices ; thus the parrot, the peacock, and the phea- 

 sant, disgust by their screams ; while the homely lark, the 

 nightingale, and the blackbird, delight by the sweetness of 

 their melody, and captivate unseen. 



REPTILES, the next class in animated nature, are far 

 less numerous and less inviting ; yet even among them we 

 shall discover much gratification of curiosity. In the for- 

 midable alligator, in the poisonous serpent whose fang is 

 death, in the harmless tortoise, and the vivacious frog, 

 very contradictory qualities, some disgusting and some 

 terrifying, will be discovered ; but a perfect adaption to 

 their respective situations in the scale of creation will be 

 clearly discernible in all. 



Should it be asked, why so many animals in this class 

 are noxious to man, without any sensible benefit; and why 

 so many are found in other classes apparently useless ; it 

 will be a sufficient answer to say, that whatever is made is 

 the work of INFINITE WISDOM, and therefore must be des- 

 tined to some good end. The stupendous economy of the 

 Deity is uniform throughout the globe ; and, if Providence 

 does not always calculate according to our narrow appre- 

 hensions, it is our duty to acquiesce in its decrees. The 

 Supreme Intellect embraces whole systems at one view ; 

 but we can only see parts, and even those imperfectly. 



The next class to which the attention of the student 

 should be directed is that of FISHES: a race of animals 

 formed to people another element, and consequently more 

 removed from our sight ; yet ichthyology is by no means 

 an unentertaining study. The conformation of fishes, their 

 wonderful adaption to the nature of the place which they 



