316 LECTURE VII. 



same manner when he caresses his mate. 

 Nor is this supposition improbable ; for we 

 know that certain feelings evidently affect 

 the different secretory organs of our own 

 bodies. 



Mr. Hunter exhibits the nests of birds 

 and field-mice amongst the preparations, 

 which display the anatomical facts relative 

 to the nourishment and defence of the 

 young. This seems on a par with the hya- 

 cinth root which I formerly mentioned. 

 Neither show any thing which is not 

 known to the most ignorant, but both 

 evince what were his habitual thoughts, 

 and at the same time display a simplicity 

 of character by no means common. 



Dull indeed must that mind be, which 

 could examine the extreme variety and 

 ingenuity of the means employed for the 

 protection and support of the offspring, 

 and their adequateness to the purpose for 

 which they seem intended, without feeling 

 the strongest excitement. The subject in 

 general, however, belongs to the natural 



