ON ZOOLOGY. 117 



The principal source of taste, it is well known, 

 is seated in the tongue; an important organ placed 

 in the mouth, to the under part of which it is 

 partially attached by muscles connected with the 

 contiguous bones so as to serve as a fulcrum for 

 those various motions, which, while they increase 

 its functions as an organ of sense, and in man of 

 speech, contribute to the forwarding of the mas- 

 ticated food into the passage leading to the 

 stomach : and in order that the sensation of taste 

 be effectually called into action, the upper sur- 

 face of this organ is covered with very numerous 

 papillae or extremities of nerves communicating 

 immediately with the brain, and so arranged as 

 to be instantly acted upon by the application of 

 any substances calculated to produce excitement. 

 As this effect is varied according to the articles 

 applied, we may easily comprehend how animals 

 discriminate one substance from another, and the 

 degree of enjoyment which nature intended they 

 should derive from the gratification of an appe- 

 tite, of which hunger is the principal cause. 



We have here two very ingenious contrivances 

 by which the important sensations of hunger and 

 taste are called into full activity. And as without 

 either of these powerful excitements, animal life 

 would soon have been extinguished, the one from 

 poisonous substances being indiscriminately swal- 

 lowed in common with others, the other, from a 

 tola! neglect of fooj ; we cannot sufficiently 



