INTUOIHTTION 9 



the succc >luti<>n of new parts, and tlio partial or total obliteration 



of the old ones. Monstrosities, or rather their semblance, must IK- t i 

 ton- jreiierate.1. which arc rcc tilled in svinmctry tlm.iiL'li the pin-iv- i.> 

 maturity 



During this transition, some of a wonderful description .-mvcc.1 

 An animated U-inir springs from a known parent, to which it dot's not 

 bear the .-lightest ran-m Nance cither in form or habits. \\liile tlic latter 

 remains stati mmov calily affixed, or permanently adhering to the 



same spot, its progeny enjoys unbounded activity ; it never rests. None 

 of the organs it pooocogcs are to be discovered in the parent ; its food is 

 (liiVeivnt. or it is not known to Cecil ; its form, its habits, its whole mode 

 of existence are foreiirn to those, of the author of its Ix-ing. Void of 

 evidence of the fact, we are prone to deny their kindred. But gradual 

 modification of all peculiarities begins to render them less unlike, and at 

 length the new animal is identified with the aspect of the old. 



The form of some creatures being perfected, all the parts remain 

 soft and compressible. The body also undergoes great reduction of size, 

 more conspicuous in the different organs alternately, than as affecting 

 its whole structure. An incredible portion of the entire animal is occu- 

 pied by tubes, by pouches, and cavities, which, replenished l.y imbibition, 

 or absorption greatly enlarges its size. It is thus that the beautiful and 

 active tentuculu, and (lerhaps also the hranchi:i>. are swollen. Their con- 

 tents ln-ing discharged, little remains of the admirable form but an empty 

 skin. 



It may be readily comprehended how in states, stages, and circum- 

 stances so very different, the organs of sense, sensation, and perception, 

 must be moulded to the creature's exigencies in each : and herein is the 

 U-ni^nity of Omnipotence displayed. The refining animal is suffering no 

 injury; it n-ache- pcrlection in possession of what is important for its 

 preservation. 



Nevertlielex- we still remain profoundly ignorant of the real number, 

 power, and nature of the senses belonging to mast of the inferior tribes, 

 whether dwelling in uir or in water. Neither can we positively atlirm that 



I 



