94 TERRESTRIAL ADAPTATIONS. 



and other causes precipitate the moisture in 

 clouds and showers, and in the former as well as 

 in the latter shape, it is condensed and absorbed 

 by the cool ground. Thus a perpetual and com- 

 pound circulation of the waters is kept up ; a 

 narrower circle between the evaporation and 

 precipitation of the land itself, the rivers and 

 streams only occasionally and partially forming 

 a portion of the circuit ; and a wider interchange 

 between the sea and the lands which feed the 

 springs, the water ascending perpetually by a 

 thousand currents through the air, and descend- 

 ing by the gradually converging branches of the 

 rivers, till it is again returned into the great 

 reservoir of the ocean. 



In every country, these two portions of the 

 aqueous circulation have their regular, and nearly 

 constant, proportion. In this kingdom the rela- 

 tive quantities are, as we have said, 23 and 13. 

 A due distribution of these circulating fluids in 

 each country appears to be necessary to its 

 organic health ; to the habits of vegetables, and 

 of man. We have every reason to believe that 

 it is kept up from year to year as steadily as the 

 circulation of the blood in the veins and arteries 

 of man. It is maintained by a machinery very 

 different indeed, from that of the human system, 

 but apparently as well, and, therefore, we may 

 say as clearly, as that, adapted to its purposes. 



By this machinery, we have a connexion es- 



