350 FACT AGAINST FICTION. 



liealtliful recreation. Unless Nature had spread 

 before ns tlie page of this aquatic lesson, who 

 would have been able to judge of the rapid evolu- 

 tions of so large a bird beneath the water with or 

 against the rushing stream, and its power to turn 

 and cope Avitli the swiftest fish that swims, either 

 the strong bright dace or the pliant eel? Yet 

 here we see that these hsh have no chance to 

 outstrip their foe; and that if they evade him 

 by suddenly availing themselves of a crevice in 

 the bank, at full speed the cormorant's sea-green 

 eye can detect their ambush, and seize them with 

 his mierring bill. 



Then, when the cormorant thus shows to us 

 the strange and admirable appliances with whicli 

 pre-observant Nature has supplied him, it is tliiis 

 that we become aware of tlie destined purpose 

 the bird is Bent to enact, and then, to me, at least, 

 occurs the doubt of a similar pre-observant wisdom 

 existing elsewhere, or as Ave are supposed to believe 

 that it does exist ; and I cannot drive this question 

 from my mind — If it Avas by some all-Avise and 

 powerful will destined that the lamb and the lion 

 Avere aliva/js to lie doAAm peacefully side by side, 

 why Avas tlie lion formed to be carnivorous, and 



