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Senses of Animals.

259

eye that projected far out of the head would be very inconvenient to them, and we find their cornea is nearly flat; to remedy the defects of this, the crystalline humour is globular, which in most other animals is lenticular, and much more flat. Though eyes are generally spherical, there is great diversity in their figure; and their situation in the head is various, according to the different destination and necessities of the animal. In man, who sees little but what is straight before him, the eyes are situated in the fore part of the head, but so arranged that they can receive impressions from the whole simicircle of objects before him. In birds, the eye is so placed, that it can take in at one view nearly the whole circle of objects around it, by which means they can provide their food more easily, and are less liable to be surprised by enemies.

The ear of man has that form which best suits his erect posture; in birds it is particularly adapted to occasion no impediment to their flight, and for this purpose it does not project, but is close, to allow of their rapid progress through the air. Thus, though we know but a small part of the wonderful mechanism of animals, we see enough to convince us of the wis dom displayed in their organization, and in the ar. rangement of their organs of sense. And the more information we gain, and the more discoveries we make, upon this interesting subject, the more cause we find to admire the wonders of nature, and to adore the goodness of God. Let us not then treat any animal, however insignificant, with contempt or indifference; they all bear the stamp of divine impression, and like ourselves have one common Parent, who is God over all.

MAY XIV.

Order observed in the Succession of Flowers.

EVERY plant springs up in the earth in the order which is prescribed to it. There is a time appointed for one to unfold its leaves, for another to flower, and a third to fade and die. The snow.drop showed its delicate flower above the ground several weeks since, long before the trees ventured to unfold their leaves, even whilst ice and snow still covered the earth. The crocus next appeared, timidly shrinking from the impetuous winds; at the same time were seen the sweet violet and the auricula. These were the joyful har. bingers of the numerous flowers that now refresh us.

At this period also a succession of flowers is observed, and every month exhibits new ornaments peculiar to itself. The tulip begins to develop its rich leaves and flowers; and speedily the beautiful ane. mone will form its full round cup, the ranunculus ex. pand all the magnificence if its leaves, and the opening rose spread its beauties to the morning sun, and fill the air with its perfuming fragrance; nor will the elegant pink, with its graceful charms, be wanting in the beauteous assemblage.

By the wise arrangement displayed in the regular succession of flowers we derive the greatest advantages; for if they all flourished at the same time, we should either have them in excessive abundance, or we should experience a total privation. But now, that each species has its determinate time and season, we can contemplate them at our leisure, and enjoy them with greater convenience; we can dwell longer upon their beauties, and examine each singly without the confu sion of numbers. And by the constant succession of flowers we do not suffer from the shortness of their continuance; for the pain of seeing one die is solaced

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by the budding of another, and our gardens during a great part of the year present, as well as attract, the face of youth and beauty. The field of nature is open to all, and he who prefers the sting of thorns may gratify his inclination as well as he who delights in seeing flowers and sweet enjoyment attend upon all his steps. As flowers succeed to each other, so do the individuals composing the human race; as some are born, others are returning to their native dust; and as some are just beginning to be useful to the world, others are leaving the great theatre of life whilst new actors begin to play their parts.

MAY XV.

Zoophites.

ZOOPHITES may be considered as insects partaking both of the nature of an animal and a plant. By their external configuration, their remaining in one place, and their producing themselves by buds and seeds, they very much resemble plants; like which they also may be propagated by grafts and slips. Their animat nature is only known by their sensibility and voluntary motion. The greater part of Zoophites put forth a kind of root in the sea and waters where they live; some of them grow in stony calcareous substances, and others are covered by a shell, which resembles horn, whilst many are soft and fleshy. They all possess in common the power of self. producing new zoophites; and whilst the young ones are attached to the parent stalk, they form but one animal; but as soon as they are separated from the stem, they have a proper existence by themselves.

Zoophites also multiply themselves in a way very similar to that of plants. They form a species of

germ containing a young zoophite, which grows for some time on the stalk, and, at length falling off, be. comes a complete animal. They do not appear to possess either brain, heart, veins, or arteries; but their whole body, from the beginning to the extremity, forms a hollow tube, which may be regarded as one continued stomach or intestinal canal. By the discovery of this humble class of beings in the creation, in the beginning of the seventeenth century, the volume of natural history has increased, and our ideas of the gradation of beings extended. The links between animal and vegetable nature are extremely imperceptible, and difficult to define. The only distinguishing characteristic is supposed to be, that plants have neither sensation nor motion, whilst every spe cies of animal both feels and moves; but the shades between these are so finely drawn, as in many instances to be impenetrable to the researches of the curious, who often assert for truth, discoveries which are only within the probability of conjecture.

MAY XVI.

Pleasures derived from the Cultivation of Fields and Gardens.

THE cultivation of fields and gardens is one of the most delightful of all occupations, and perhaps the only one the toil of which is recompensed with much pleasure. The greater part of laborious employments confine a man to his shop, or within his house; whilst he who devotes himself to agricultural pursuits breathes always a pure air, and enjoys continually the grand spectacle of nature. The azure sky is his canopy, and the earth embroidered with flowers his carpet. Far removed from the murky atmosphere of

Cultivation of Fields and Gardens.

263

towns, a thousand beautiful objects present them. selves to his view, and he need never want a pure spring of delight, or real banquet of pleasure. Soon as the first rays of morning beam light on the earth, he rises with the lark, and hastes away to his fields, brushing, as he passes, the glistening dew-drops, and inhaling the fresh unbreathed air, sweeter than the rose's perfume.

The joyful songs of the birds gladden the skies, and they express their loves in a thousand sportful sallics. Their sweet carols mark the pleasure they feel in the new day, and the full chorus swells with the praises of the God of nature, whose blessings they again receive in the returning influence of the sun, in their food, and in the sweet attractions of love and gaiety. And surely, no heart can remain unmoved amid this scene of joy and festivity; nor can the mind contemplate a more august spectacle than the perfection of God in the grandeur of his designs and the beauty of his works.

What contributes to render agriculture and garden. ing more particularly pleasing, is the constant variety and succession of objects always presented to us, which relieve the wearisomeness of continued uniformity and undeviating sameness. We continually observe a vast variety of plants, fruits, herbs, and trees, grow up under our auspices, and assuming every diversity of appearance. Nature leads her followers through a thousand flowery paths, ever diversified by new changes and fresh delight. One while we see plants just peeping above the ground, at another those which have arisen and are fully developed, and others which are in full bloom. Whichever way we direct our view we see new beauties. The heavens above, and the earth beneath, contain exhaustless treasures and boundless delights. Let those who are from necessity confined within the walls of cities sometimes

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