THE MONKEY FAMILY. 



78 



The outlines of its supposed " bungled conform- 

 ation/' may always be attributed to the fallacy of 

 our own misconceptions, and not to the ever faithful 

 hand of the Creator. 



A trifle more, on the habits of certain animals, 

 which, when left to their own resources, know 

 exactly where to find their necessary food. 



Many animals have a very confined range; the 

 human louse to wit. Others have an unbounded 

 one: — for example — a travelling torn cat. Some 

 animals may inhabit only certain parts of a 

 country, as a Bengal tiger. Others again, are 

 positive cosmopolites, as in the case with the Han- 

 overian rat. Other animals are known to thrive in 

 one locality, and to perish in another, although 

 both localities appear pretty near the same to us 

 shortsighted mortals. 



Thus, about eight years ago, I had occasion 

 to dissect an old turkey cock, of the wild American 

 breed. It swarmed with lice to an inconceivable 

 extent. Whilst I was engaged in the dissection, 

 lots of these gallinaceous lice found their way on to 

 my own body. I knew full well, that they had got 

 into a wrong box, and that they would not keep 

 company with me for any length of time. So I let 

 them have their own way, and I gave myself little 

 or no trouble about them. In less than four and 



