provided with five external senses, for seeing, hearing, touching, tasting and smelling. The first of these is the eye, which is situated in the head, as the most suitable part of the body for directing its several motions, and perceiving external objects. The mechanism of this optical organ is constructed in the most consummate manner, for by means of its humours, the rays of light are collected to a point, and refracted on the back part of the eye called the retina, where a picture is formed of every appearance presented to our view. Thus all animals are enabled to obtain an idea of the various objects by which they are surrounded, and to take precautions against such as would expose them to danger. For the safety and accommodation of animals, they are also furnished with ears, which by their sinuous texture, convey the undulatory motion of sounds to the tympanum or lower part of the organ where the sensation is produced. That this organ may be protected from insects and other noxious creatures, it is filled with an acrid secretion which is so offensive to their taste, that they are thereby prevented from annoying men and other animals. The sense of touching is extended over the greater part of the bodies of animals, by which they are informed of the qualities of those substances that come in contact with them, and enabled to judge of their nature and position. The organ of tasting is the palate, and that of smelling is the nostril; both which enable animals to discriminate the properties of food, and determine whether it is agreeable or disagreeable to the stomach. These five senses are common to all the beasts of the field, and almost every species of animals with which we are acquainted.

The formation of the bodies of animals is also admirably constructed, and their several organs most wisely adapted for the purposes to which they are subservient. Thus their mouth is nicely adjusted, either for seizing their prey, or collecting their food, their teeth to break any hard substance or to browze on the tender herb, and masticate it for the deglutition of the alimentary canal; their stomach for digesting and concocting whatever is received into it for nourishment, the spiral marrow, for con

veying the nutritious ingredients to all parts of the body, and the heart for promoting the circulation of the blood. The head of animals is proportioned to their bulk and contains the brain which is the sensorium of perception, the neck is formed to unite it with the body, the body is composed of bones and vessels for performing the several functions of life; the legs are the instruments of motion, and the feet serve to support the whole weight of the animal structure. They are all covered with skins, either of a hairy or fleecy texture, which defend their frame from cold, and add beauty to its appearance. These several organs and members belong to every creature on the face of the earth; though they are variously modified according to particular circumstances. While bipeds and quadrupeds convey themselves from place to place, by the motion of their limbs, creeping things have such elasticity in their muscular powers, as enables them to proceed with rapidity in any direction. Thus, the necessities of every species are provided for, by such an apparatus as is suitable to its condition; nothing is wanting, and nothing superfluous; but all things are fearfully and wonderfully made."

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The sagacity of animals to procure their food has been often remarked by naturalists with a high degree of admiration. Some lie in wait for their prey, others descry it at a distance; some feed on one kind of plants, others on another; and all choose for themselves what is most palatable and wholesome. Their instinctive ingenuity in providing suitable habitations for themselves and their offspring has been frequently described, and is not a little worthy of attention. Some burrow in the ground; others make dens among rocks and caverns; some build cells on the inaccessible margins of rivers; others have store houses in the midst of the forest; and all take care to secure such accommodation as is convenient for them. In these retreats, they bring forth and nourish their tender offspring with all the fondness of parental affection. For this purpose, they are supplied with a lacteal fluid during the period of gestation, which is found to possess the most nutritious qualities, and peculiarly agreeable to

the taste of the nursing brood. And so careful is the dam to minister to the comfort of her helpless progeny, that she never leaves them, except for seeking a supply of food, and tends them till their strength is sufficient for their own defence and preservation.

Such are the general qualities inherent in the nature of every animal, either in a greater or less degree; but there are particular instincts and uses belonging to individual species, which deserve to be mentioned, when treating of this subject. There are about two hundred species of animals, which have been distinguished by naturalists into wild and tame. Most of the former, such as lions and tigers, are carnivorous, and subsist by preying on the smaller tribes which are exposed to their attacks. They may for that reason be reckoned pernicious; but they are also exceedingly useful in devouring the carcases of animals that would otherwise be apt to infect the air. It is moreover wisely ordained, that these rapacious classes, should exist in a solitary state, and thus they are less formidable, than if they associated together in flocks and herds. Many of the larger animals, such as camels, dromedaries and horses, are very serviceable, as beasts of burthen, without which the labours of life could not be carried on with success, and, as they are easily domesticated, become an invaluable treasure to mankind. Cattle and all the gregarious tribes, such as kine and sheep; afford wholesome food for human sustenance, and their fleeces serve as materials for our clothing. Even those which cannot be reduced under our subjection, such as deer and hares, are pursued and killed by men in every region of the globe, and afford in many countries a chief article of domestic provision, and their skins are manufactured for the use of the inhabitants. In order that animals, both wild and tame, may be brought within our reach, or rendered submissive to our authority, we have other creatures, which instinctively wage war against the former, and keep the latter under discipline. Lest many noxious beasts should multiply too fast, and destroy the provision allotted for the support of man, there are various kinds of tame animals which devour them in great

numbers; so that the due proportion is always maintained throughout the creation. In short, if we examine the whole economy of nature, we shall find that every creature is adapted to some beneficial purpose; and that both their structure, their instincts and uses are such as qualify them to subsist in that condition for which they were intended. And we shall see reason to acknowledge, that nothing less than the wisest contrivance could have provided them with organs of sensation and motion, imparted to them faculties for attack and defence, furnished them with food suited to their necessities, directed them to choose the most commodious places for their habitation, given them affection to nourish their offspring, and preserved their several races from generation to generation. Nothing less than the most consummate intelligence could have formed the several gradations of living creatures from the greatest to the least with the most exact adaptation to the mode of their existence, and varied the formation of their bodies according to the exigencies of their condition. Thus it is, that "God hath made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the carth after his kind: and he saw that it was good."

Ver. 26. And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man in his own image: in the image of God created he him; male and female created

he them.

28. And God blessed them: and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

After the earth had been created, and its various parts modified according to the most perfect arrangement; after its surface had been covered with herbs and plants, and

animals produced to subsist on its various productions: the Almighty formed the first pair of the human race to have dominion over the works of his hands. As they were superior in their nature to the rest of the creatures, we find the divine persons of the Godhead consulting about the manner of their origin. The body of man indeed was made from the dust of the earth, and in that respect partakes of the same materials as those of the inferior animals, and it is furnished with similar members and organs of sensation and action. It differs, how-, ever, in its erect posture, and the mechanism of its parts, which are more delicate than those of the other terrestrial inhabitants. The organization of the human frame is more complicated in its structure; its bones more artificially arranged; its joints more flexible; its muscles more active; its external configuation more finely shaped; and its internal vessels more regularly disposed than any which is to be found among the animal creation. Thus, the head is placed on the neck, where it is capable of moving on either side, as on a pivot, and directing our view to every object around us. The shoulders support. the neck, and from their strength are well adapted to defend the trunk of the body from injury by violent pressure, as well as a substratum for the great bones which issue from them in all directions. To the shoulders are attached the arms and hands, by which we we can raise any weight, take hold of any object, and perform innumerable operations. To them also is united the chest composed of ribs which guard the heart, and they are so constructed as to expand at every act of respiration, and thus afford an easy dilatation and contraction to the lungs. Along the back is placed the spine, consisting of twenty-four vertebra or perforated bones, through which the medullary substance that contains the principle of life passes from all parts of the body to the brain. The bones of the spine are detached from each other to render it flexible, and allow us the liberty of stooping and such other postures as are necessary for active exertion. From the spine issue the nerves and arteries, which convey the blood and other secretions to and from the various absor