NATURAL THEOLOGY. 77 



logy beyond all limits of reason and credibility, 

 to assert that birds, and beasts, and fish, with all 

 their variety and complexity of organization, have 

 been brought into their forms, and distinguished 

 into their several kinds and natures, by the same 

 process (even if that process could be demonstra- 

 ted, or had it ever been actually noticed,) as might 

 seem to serve for the gradual generation of a cam- 

 el's bunch, or a pelican's pouch. 



The solution, when applied to the works of na- 

 ture generally, is contradicted by many of the 

 phsenomena, and totally inadequate to others. 

 The ligaments or strictures, by which the tendons 

 are tied down at the angles of the joints, could, by 

 no possibility, be formed by the motion or exer- 

 cise of the tendons themselves ; by an appetency 

 exciting these parts into action ; or by any tenden- 

 cy arising therefrom. The tendency is all the 

 other way : the conatus in constant opposition to 

 them. Length of time does not help the case at 

 al), but the reverse. The valves also in the blood- 

 vessels could never be formed in the manner which 

 our theorist proposes. The blood, in its right and 

 natural course, has no tendency to form them. 

 When obstructed or refluent, it has the contrary. 

 These parts could not grow out of their use, though 

 they had eternity to grow in. 



The senses of animals appear to me altogether 



incapable of receiving the explanation of their 



origin which this theory affords. Including under 



the word " sense" the organ and the perception, 



8* 



