PHILOSOPHY OF ZOOLOGY. 



intervals, measure the distance they ought to travel, and 

 return with regularity to their home. The sun appears to 

 be their great regulator, as they are influenced by the 

 changes which take place with his light and heat. Fishes, 

 and other animals which live in the sea, or search for food 

 on its shores, appear to regulate themselves by the motions 

 of the tide. The regularity of the crowing of the cock has 

 been long admired, but it appears difficult to point out 

 the measure of time by which it is governed. 



Man alone has devised artificial plans for measuring 

 time, in the employment of dials, clepsydrae, sand-glasses, 

 clocks and watches. 



By attending to the succession of past events, and find- 

 ing our anticipations frequently realised, we begin to form 

 some notions with regard to futurity, and by imagining a 

 continued succession, we acquire our ideas of eternity, if 

 we can be said to have any distinct ideas on the subject. 



The notions of future time, in all probability, exist 

 wherever there are notions of past time, and bear a co- 

 ordinate degree of distinctness. In this respect, man is 

 unquestionably superior to the brutes, as he exercises 

 himself more frequently in measuring time, and devises 

 more complicated plans for his future comfort. But the 

 brutes are not ignorant of future time, as many of their ac- 

 tions clearly testify, in the prospective efforts of their ima- 

 gination, already noticed. A fox or a dog possessed of 

 more food than is necessary for the supply of present wants, 

 conceals the remainder until again urged by the calls of hun- 

 ger. The ermine will conceal a number of eggs in a par- 

 ticular place, and return at intervals to its magazine. 



3. Power. Were we merely inactive spectators of the 

 changes which take place in the world, it is probable that 

 the ideas of reflection which would result from the con- 



