118 CLASS AVES. 



The perpetual state of activity in birds has a tendency to 

 develope their muscular system in an extreme degree ; and as 

 the labour of the muscles dries, hardens, and fortifies the body, 

 these animals must necessarily be of a complexion arid, but 

 robust. In fact, the flesh of birds is of a substance extremely 

 compact, and almost tendinous. This habit of violent exer- 

 cise must also engender considerable heat ; and as their organs 

 are necessarily much worn by constant labour, so have they 

 need of frequent and copious reparation. We find, accord- 

 ingly, that the heat in birds is greater, and their appetite more 

 keen, than in the majority of other animals. 



Their corporeal heat depends, however, more particularly 

 on another cause, which is the principle of the immense viva- 

 city and force with which they are gifted. For, indeed, what 

 wonderful vigour must a bird possess, to be able to sustain 

 itself in the midst of the air by repeated springs, and to perform 

 such lengthened journeys in so short a space of time ? What 

 amazing action of the wings, and what tremendous force in the 

 pectoral muscles are necessary, to enable a heavy bird to 

 proceed at the rate of some hundreds of leagues a day, and 

 to execute such prodigious voyages ? The source of this mus- 



may flourish as they please respecting- the advantages possessed by some 

 animals over man ; but no animal is so well organised as man, not only in 

 the brain, but in every other part, for the station which he holds at the 

 head of the animal kingdom. Some may possess greater acuteness of one 

 sense, some of another ; some may have greater muscular force, others 

 more agility ; but none possess such an union of advantages as man 

 does, to fulfil the peculiar purposes of man's creation. Without such an 

 union, the development of his intellect could only serve to render him 

 miserable ; and, we may add, that with many of the seeming advantages 

 that other animals possess, such development could not possibly take 

 place. Paine imagines that man would have been better with the wings 

 of a bird, forgetting that such a faculty would necessitate a covering 

 that must diuiinish his sensibility, and a volatility of character that would 

 unfit him for reflection. No! man need not envy the pinions of the eagle. 

 Let him content himself with those winged thoughts wliicli can carry him 

 beyond the confines of the earth, and lift him to the heaven of heavens! 



E. P. 



