224 FUNCTIONS AND INSTINCTS. 



pects, certain lateral suckers, disposed so as 

 not to impede the motions of the muscles ; but 

 their union is only temporary. At a certain age, 

 M. Peron observes, these animals separate, all 

 the large individuals being solitary. The same 

 traveller is of opinion that the concatenation of 

 the Salpes is coeval with their birth. 



The object of Divine Providence in endowing 

 these animals with an instinct so singular can 

 only be conjectured. They are of so very frail a 

 nature, that perhaps when first produced, the 

 fluctuations of the mass of waters, to the surface 

 of which they appear to rise, might be sufficient 

 to destroy them, or to carry them to the shore, 

 where they would inevitably perish ; but by being- 

 united in bands, they may be better able to resist 

 their force, and perhaps the more vivid light 

 they thus produce, may be designed for defence, 1 

 or to answer some other important purpose. When 

 they have attained maturity of size and strength 

 they may be better able to direct their course 

 and avoid these injuries. The young of terres- 

 trial animals generally are associated, under the 

 guidance and protection indeed of the mother, 

 till they are of age to take care of themselves. 

 The object of Providence in both cases is the 

 same, though the modes of its accomplishment 

 vary according to the situation and circumstances 



1 See above, p 178. 



