MOLLUSCA. 43 



Yet do you not perceive how God has compen- 

 sated this deficiency 1 



Child. Yes, you mean by teaching him to 

 construct a web to entrap the flies. 



Teacher. This instance will give you a good 

 idea of what is meant by the compensatory pro- 

 vidence of God. It is much displayed in the 

 singular fitness of shells for their respective lo- 

 calities. Those which move easily from place 

 to place, and consequently are able to elude their 

 pursuers, are often adorned with vivid colours, 

 whilst those which are incapable of locomotion, 

 escape the notice of their enemies by resembling 

 in colour the stones and weeds which surround 

 them. Now tell me the two principles /which 

 are to be traced throughout the works of the 

 Creator. 



Child. The economy of God and his com- 

 pensatory providence. 



Teacher. Bear these principles in mind, and 

 you will see many illustrations of them in the 

 habits of the mollusca. The following lines of 

 Pope will help to fix them in your memories : 



Nature to these, without prof usion, kind, 

 To proper organs, proper powers assigned ; 

 ' Each seeming want ' compensated of course, 

 Here with degrees of swiftness, there of force 



LESSON VII. 



Teacher. Which do you think will be our 

 next step in the study of shells ? 



