his mane and the muscles of his tail ample; but his hinder parts are more feeble and slender. Nature, to use a German expression, had exhausted his fearful powers, and made him in disposition, when not tormented with the thirst of blood, a generous and noble beast. So physiological are thus also this creature's mind and character.

"The sloth, in appearance the most shapeless of beasts, may serve us for a third example. His head is small and round; his limbs too are round, thick, shapeless, and like stuffed cushions; his neck stiff, as if it were one piece with the head; the hair of it has a contrary direction to that of the back; the wretched head, in place, form and functions, being subordinate to the belly and posteriors, which appear the principal parts; for the organs of voracity far exceed those of sense; and even the heart and lungs are slightly formed. Hence his blood is so cold as to border on that of amphibia; his heart palpitates long after being taken out, and the legs are agitated after the heart is gone, as though he were in a slumber. Thus while he wants susceptible nerves, and even active muscular powers, he possesses a more diffused and exquisite irritability, like the polypus or earthworm. This singular animal, therefore, may be less unfortunate than he seems. He loves warmth and the quiet of sleep; when he wants warmth he sleeps; and as if lying down were painful to him, he fastens himself to a bough with his paws, and feeds himself with one of them, while, hanging from it like a bag

he enjoys in the warm sun-beams his grub-like existence. Thus the mishapen form of his feet is a benefit to him. From the peculiarity of their structure, the tender animal cannot support himself on their balls, but only on the convexity of his claws; on which as on the wheels of a waggon, he shoves himself slowly and commodiously along. His six and forty ribs, the like of which no other quadruped possesses, form a long vault for his storehouse of provisions, and are the ossified rings of a voracious leaf-bag of a grub."*

To the preceding may be added a few similar observations on the mole, a creature whose form and structure are admirably suited to its mode of life. "What more palpable argument of Providence than the mole?" says Cardan, cited by Dr. More, "Her body is so exactly fitted to her manner of life; for her dwelling being under ground where nothing is to be seen, nature has so obscurely provided her with an organ of sight, that naturalists have doubted whether she have any eyes at all or not; but for amends, she has very eminently conferred upon her what she is capable of for defence and warning of danger; for she is exceedingly quick of hearing. And then we see to what purpose are her short tail and short legs, but broad fore-feet armed with sharp claws; she so swiftly working herself under ground and making her way so fast in the earth, as they that

* See Herder's Philosophy of Man, Vol. 1. Book 3.

behold it cannot but admire it. Her legs are short, that she need dig no more than will serve the mere thickness of her body; and her fore feet are broad, that she may scoop away much earth at a time; and little or no tail she has, because she courses not on the ground, like the rat or mouse of whose kindred she is, but lives under the earth, and digs herself a dwelling there. And she making her way, through so thick an element, which will not yield easily, it had been dangerous to have drawn so long a train behind her; for her enemy might fall upon her rear, and fetch her out, before she had completed or got full possession of her works."

Boyle remarks pretty correctly, that although the mole is not totally blind, she has scarcely sight enough to distinguish particular objects. It is supposed that her eye is so constructed as to give her the idea of light and nothing else, and that this idea or sensation is probably painful to the animal. Hence when she comes into broad day she might be in danger of being taken, unless she were thus affected by a light striking upon her eye, and immediately warning her to bury herself in her proper element. More sight would be useless to her, as none at all might be fatal?*

There would be no end of physiological facts and reasonings, tending to prove the intelligence and design displayed in the formation and habits of the

* Spectator, Vol. 2. No. 120.

lower animals. All the writings upon natural theology, as it is called, abound in such observations; and there is scarcely a single animal, whose nature and habits are at all known, that might not afford an obvious illustration.

CHAP. III.

OF THE INSTINCTS IN MAN.

THE examples, which have been hitherto selected, afford some tolerable notion of the views and ground intended to be taken in the following reasonings. Whether we regard the form and internal structure of the lower animals, physiologically, or their acts and general economy, physically, we have the clearest evidence that their instinctive actions are regulated by the most perfect intelligence. And because means are so wonderfully adapted to their ends, we are compelled to suppose that these actions are not entirely under their own direction; but, as all are perfect in their kinds, and all conspire, (every individual in its limited sphere) with astonishing, unerring precision, to one great end,-the support and continuance, and order of the outward creation,-we must conclude, that the whole are governed by a power infinite in wisdom, working in them by its energy, through the instrumentality of their respective organs.