MIGRATION OF ANIMALS. 127 



stinctively provided against these. That they do learn 

 a little wisdom from experience, is a proof that they 

 are not mere machines ; that they are something more 

 than mechanical; that life in the humblest thing that 

 lives, is different in kind from the action of mere 

 matter; and that there runs through the whole of 

 organized being, a philosophy which man, when he 

 thinks of it, must admire, but which he cannot fathom. 

 The animal, or even the plant, is not like an engine, 

 confined to certain movements which it cannot vary, 

 but has a certain range of volition (if we may give it 

 the name) by means of which it can deviate a little 

 from that which would otherwise be its path, if that 

 path contain ought that is dangerous or inconvenient. 

 Thus, if we would come to the living productions of 

 nature with minds fit for learning those lessons which 

 they are so well calculated for imparting, we must 

 equally avoid two extremes, the one of which would 

 lead us to confound organic being with the mere in- 

 organic clods of the valley, and the other would lead 

 us to confound their instantaneous impulses with de- 

 liberation, and measure instinct by the standard of 

 reason. 



The migrations of birds are more remarkable, and 

 have been more early and more carefully observed; 

 and that birds should have a greater range, is in perfect 

 accordance with the general law of nature. The ap- 

 paratus with which the majority of birds are furnished 

 for preparing their food for digestion in the stomach, 

 confines that food within a smaller compass than the 

 food of the quadrupeds. With the exception of the 

 birds of prey, which can rend other animals for their 



