138 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 



and king, leads, according to right and law, the 

 earth, and the water, and the air, and the fire, 

 and whatever plants or animals are therein, 

 things mortal and things divine ; the physical 

 structure also of the heavens, and the circuit of 

 the sun and moon ; the revolutions and harmo- 

 nious choirs of the other stars ; placing over 

 them his right Word the first born Son, who hath 

 inherited the care of this Holy Flock, as the 

 Viceroy of a mighty King." 



CHAPTER III. 

 Functions and Instincts of Animals. 



HAVING, in the last chapter, stated how the dis- 

 persion and distribution of animals, under the 

 Divine superintendence and direction, probably 

 took place after the Deluge ; and having like- 

 wise considered those temporary changes of 

 place, either casual or periodical, which are still 

 in operation, I shall next endeavour to give a 

 general sketch of the animal kingdom, its 

 classes and larger groups, and so much of their 

 history, habits, and instincts, as may be neces- 

 sary to indicate their several functions and offices 

 in the general plan of creation, so as to illustrate 

 more strikingly the GOODNESS that willed, the 



