136 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 



it is evidently used to designate the Argonaut 1 

 and Nautilus of the moderns, and also to include 

 some terrestrial shells. The Zoophytes however 

 are not confined to the ocean, every rivulet, and 

 stagnant ditch or pool affords to some kinds, 

 more commonly denominated Polypes, and also 

 to some sponges, their destined habitation. An 

 infinite army of shell-fish, whether multi valve, 

 bivalve, or univalve, also cover the bed of the 

 ocean, or move in its waters, and some dance 

 gaily on its surface with expanded sails, or dash- 

 ing oars when tempted by fair weather. 



From this brief view of the local distribution of 

 animals and their various haunts, we see the care 

 of Divine Providence, that no place, however, 

 at first sight, apparently unfit, might be without 

 its animal as well as vegetable population : if 

 the hard rock is clothed with a lichen, the 

 lichen has its inhabitant : and that inhabitant, 

 besides affording an appropriate food to the bird 

 that alights upon the rock, or some parasite that 

 lias been hatched in or upon its own body, 

 assists in forming a soil upon it. There is 

 no place so horrible and fetid from unclean and 

 putrid substances, that is not cleansed and puri- 

 fied by some animals that are either its constant 

 or nomadic inhabitants. Thus life, a life at- 



1 Argonauta. 



