NATURAL THEOLOGY. 147 



is so perfect, that from one single bone, or fragment 

 of a bone, the naturalist tells us the shape, motions, 

 and habits of the animal. 



T. The next remarkable example under this 

 head is the structure of the throat. 



THE THROAT. 



A. The throat is the channel for conveying the 

 food from the mouth to another set of apparatus, 

 where the process of converting it into nourishment is 

 to be completed. It might seem a simple provision 

 to furnish a tube from the mouth to the stomach. 

 But there are difficulties which afford new occasion 

 to admire the consummate skill which has contrived 

 every part of our frame. In the first place, we must 

 be able to swallow with ease. 



B. I do not see any occasion for much contri- 

 vance to enable the food to drop down the throat. 

 One would naturally suppose that it would fall of its 

 own accord. 



A. I dare say you have heard of some exceptions, 

 however, and the failure of one instance, might pro- 

 duce the most serious consequences. Many articles 

 of food, are of a light and spongy nature, and if taken 

 in great quantities, would not be liable to effect their 

 descent by their own weight. But the still stronger 

 case is that of the animals whose swallowing is not 

 a descending, but an ascending operation. The con- 

 trivance is the most mechanical possible. There are 

 muscular fibres or strings in the lining of the throat, 



