IQO FACTS AND FANCIES. 



probability of such an hypothesis becomes 

 infinitely small when we consider the variety 

 and the diversity of things and forces which 

 must have conspired to produce the results 

 observed, and to maintain them so constantly, 

 and yet with so much difference in circum- 

 stances and details. It is a relief to turn from 

 such bewildering and gratuitous suppositions 

 to the theory which supposes a designing 

 Creative Mind. ^ 



From the boundless variety of illustrations 

 which the animal kingdom presents I may 

 select one — the contrivances by means of 

 which marine animals are enabled to float or 

 balance themselves in the waters. The Pearly 

 Nautilus (see Fig. 1 5) is one of the most famil- 

 iar, and also one of the most curious. Its 

 coiled shell is divided by partitions into air- 

 chambers so proportioned that the buoyancy 

 of the air is sufficient to counterpoise in sea- 

 water the weight of the animal. There are 

 also contrivances by which the density of the 

 contained air and of the body of the animal can 

 be so modified as slightly to disturb this equi- 

 librium, and to enable the creature to rise or 

 sink in the waters. It would be tedious to 

 describe, without adequate illustrations, all the 



