THE CHRISTIAN NATURALIST. 163 



wonderful, though they live in their own element, they 

 breathe air also, and by the peculiar construction of 

 their gills, are enabled to take in the air with which 

 the water is saturated, while at the same time the 

 water is excluded. When we attentively consider the 

 curious provision of their internal structure, and con- 

 nect it with their external covering, we shall be still more 

 deeply impressed with the peculiar adaptation of their 

 bodies to the element in which they live and move and 

 have their being. How beautifully have they been 

 clothed by- the Author of nature; not indeed with silks 

 and furs, for this would be unsuitable to their situation, 

 but with an armour of glittering scales, or plates, far 

 more curious and more protective than that which was 

 worn by the proud knights of old in fields of chi- 

 valry! Men have rivalled each other in their houses 

 and castles, but how inferior have all these been in 

 comparison with those inhabited by the Crab, the 

 Oyster, the Tortoise, and all the shelly tribes. No 

 wonder then that the book of Job should appeal to 

 this part of the creation for some of the most striking 

 proofs of his handy-work : — " Ask now. ..... and the 



fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who know- 

 eth not in all these, that the hand of the Lord hath 

 wrought this ?" (Job xii. 7.> 



