296 FACULTIES OF BIRDS. 



its body, the number and condition of its organs, 

 in short, the faculties which it enjoys. Thus, otters, 

 beavers, water-fowl, turtles, and frogs were not made 

 web-footed in order that they might swim ; but their 

 wants having attracted them to the water in search of 

 prey, they stretched out the toes of their feet to strike 

 the water, and move rapidly along its surface. By 

 the repeated stretching of the toes, the skin which 

 united them at the base acquired a habit of extension, 

 until in the course of time the broad membranes 

 which now connect their extremities were formed. 



"In like manner, the antelope and the gazelle 

 were not endowed with light agile forms, in order 

 that they might escape by flight from carnivorous 

 animals ; but having been exposed to the danger of 

 being devoured by lions, tigers, and other beasts of 

 prey, they were compelled to exert themselves in 

 running with great celerity, a habit which, in the 

 course of many generations, gave rise to the peculiar 

 slenderness of their legs, and the agility and elegance 

 of their forms. 



" The camelopard was not gifted with a long- 

 flexible neck, because it was destined to live in the 

 interior of Africa, where the soil was arid and devoid 

 of herbage; but being reduced, by the nature of that 

 country, to support itself on the foliage of lofty trees, 

 it contracted a habit of stretching itself up to reach 

 the high boughs, until its fore legs became longer 

 than the hinder, and its neck so elongated, that it 

 could raise its head to the height of twenty feet above 

 the ground V 



We deem it quite unnecessary to attempt any refu- 

 tation of such extravagance. Those who wish to 

 see an able discussion on the subject will find it in 

 Lyell's Geology t. 



We shall now advert to two other classes of 

 * Philosophic Zoologique. t Vol. ii. chap. 1. 



