BARON CUVIER. 67 



are distributed through the skin, and makes 

 known to us the resistance of bodies and their 

 temperature. The other senses seem to be but 

 more elevated modifications of the touch, and 

 are susceptible of more delicate impressions. 

 Every one knows that they are the sight, 

 which resides in the eye; the hearing, which 

 resides in the ear; the smell, which resides in 

 tlie membranes inside the nose ; and the taste, 

 the seat of which is in the teguments of tlie 

 tongue. These are all situated at the same ex- 

 tremity of the body which contains the brain, 

 and which we call the head, or chief. Light, 

 vibrations of the air, volatile emanations floating 

 in the atmosphere, and saline particles soluble 

 in water, or the saliva, are the substances which 

 act on these four senses, and the organs which 

 transmit their action to the nerves are especially 

 adapted to each. The eye presents transparent 

 lenses to the light, which break its rays ; the 

 ear offers membranes and fluids to the air, which 

 receive its agitations ; the nose draws up the air 

 which goes to the lungs, and in its passage 

 attracts tlie odorous vapours contained in it ; 

 and, lastly, the tongue is furnished with spongy 

 papillae, which imbibe the savoury liquids of- 

 fered to it. It is by these means that we are 



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