THlNaS ANIMATE AND INANIMATK. 195 



the properties of the fluid, and the organ cannot act ; cliange 

 ihe organ and the properties of the fluid would be lost. The 

 structure, therefore, of our organs, and the properties of our 

 atmosphere, are made for one another. Nor does it alter the 

 relation, whether you allege the organ to be made for the 

 element — which seems the most natural way of considerin«| 

 it — or the element as prepared for the organ. 



IV. But there is another fluid with which we have to 

 d( with properties of its own — with laws of acting, and of 

 bemg acted upon, totally different from those of air and wa- 

 ter : and that is light. To this new, this singular element — 

 to qualities perfectly peculiar, perfectly distinct and remote 

 from the qualities of any other substance with which we are 

 acquainted — an organ is adapted, an instrument is correctly 

 adjusted, not less peculiar among the parts of the body, not 

 less singular ni its form and in the substance of which it is 

 composed, not less remote from the materials, the model, and 

 the analogy of any other part of the animal frame, than the 

 element to which it relates is speciflc amidst the substances 

 with which we converse. If this does not prove appropria- 

 tion, I desire to know what would prove it. 



Yet the clement of light and the organ of vision, how- 

 ever related in their office and use, have no connection what- 

 ever in then* original. The action of rays of light upon tlie 

 surfaces of animals has no tendency to breed eyes in their 

 heads. The sun might shiiie for ever upon living bodies 

 without the smallest approach towards producing the sense 

 of sight. On the other hand also,. the animal eye does not 

 generate or emit light. 



V. Throughout the universe there is a wonderful lyropor- 

 lioning of one thing to another The size of animals, the 

 liuman animal especially, when considered with respect to 

 other animals, or to the plants ^^■hich grow around him, is 

 such as a regard to his convenieney would have pointed out. 

 A giant or a pigmy could not have milked goats, reaped com, 

 nr mowed grass ; we may add, could not have rode a horse, 



