62 BOOK OF NATURE LAID OPEtf. 



treme minuteness of the muscles necessary to the 

 heart, the glands for the secretion of the fluids, the 

 stomach and bowels for the digestion of the food, 

 the fineness of the tubes, nerves^ arteries, veins, and 

 above all, of the blood, the lymph, and animal spi- 

 rits, which must be infinitely more so than any of 

 these ! Here the utmost stretch of imagination is 

 brought to the test, without being able to form any 

 adequate conception ; but these inconceivable won- 

 ders, instead of conveying any idea of imperfection, 

 as to the skill of the artist, must, from what they 

 make to appear, inspire the attentive observer with 

 very different emotions, and force him to exclaim, 



" Thyself, how wond'rous then !" 



The beauty and symmetry of some of those mi- 

 nute objects so viewed, are surprising indeed. What 

 a metamorphosis do they seem to undergo under the 

 magic-working glass ! Creatures that before seemed 

 small and despicable, now " appear the pride of 

 nature, wherein she has bestowed more nice and 

 delicate art, and displayed more profusely the rich 

 embroidery and elegant beauties and garniture of 

 colours than in any of the larger species of animals.'' 

 Even the dust that adheres to the butterfly's wing, 

 and to which it owes the beautiful tints and varie- 

 gated hues which adorn it, is said to be an innume- 

 rable collection of extremely small feathers, as per- 

 fect in the structure and symmetry of the arrange- 

 ment, as they are beautiful in the colouring. 



