which reason urges, and which demand the agency of the hand of man?

There is, however, still a modification of the anterior limbs, in mammalia, to which we must refer; we mean their conversion into paddles or oars for propelling the body through the water. We find this to be the case with the seal; but the seal can also shuffle along on the shore, or scramble over the surface of rocks; it has besides posterior limbs of a finlike character, placed completely at the extremity of the body. In the whales and porpoises, on the contrary, there are no posterior limbs, and the anterior pair are far more completely paddles in appearance and structure. The bones are all imbedded in cellular tissue, and a smooth oily skin envelopes the whole, which is modelled into a short flat flipper, worked by muscles of great power and energy. There is in this instrument of aquatic propulsion not the slightest prehensile power; it is not even destined as a support to the body, but is merely fashioned as an oar; yet the female whale, when alarmed, can press her young cub between this paddle and her side, while she dives to avoid the assaults of her enemies.

The conversion of the anterior limbs into paddles shows to what an extreme the structural changes in their elementary parts may be carried; for although in the whale, the dugong, and others, the anatomist can determine the bones composing them, yet when we come to examine the paddles of those strange extinct reptiles of gigantic size, the plesiosaurus and the ichthyosaurus, we find them composed of rows of numerous small bones of irregular form, "polygons or trapezoids, less like phalanges, than the radii of the fins of a fish." In the pectoral fins of the fish, indeed, we see the last rudiments of the anterior extremity among the vertebrate classes.

How infinite are the resources of the Divine Mind! with what ease are the same organs fashioned into instruments for different purposes! Ingenious as are the contrivances of man, how few and feeble are they when compared with those of the Almighty! Man labours and studies and calculates, and produces a machine at once complicated and imperfect: others improve upon it; but still it is imperfect, and so it must ever remain. But the plans of the Almighty Creator surprise us

by their beautiful precision, their fitness, and their elegant simplicity. They proclaim their Divine original.

As in nature, so in grace is the wisdom of the Almighty seen. He is wonderful in counsel, and his purposes are wise and just and holy, whether they respect nations or individuals; there is nothing beneath his notice. In him we must put our trust, to him we must look, in all our trials, in all our difficulties, assured that he can deliver, that he can provide, and that the Cause of causes never wants the means of accomplishing his holy will. How often does human aid fail! how repeatedly are the designs of man frustrated! and if accomplished, with what difficulty! But all things obey God; he can give light in the darkest hour, and convert impending evil into good. We see and know only in part; but to God is manifest the past, the present, and the future, and it may be that the troubles of the present day are but the seeds of future joy and thankfulness. We repeat it then, as in nature, so in grace are the wisdom and goodness of God to be seen. Such considerations not only enforce upon our minds our perpetual dependence upon God, but lead us to repose

our entire trust in him, and in all his promises. He has shown his wisdom, power, and goodness in creation, but more than these, his mercy also, in the means of salvation (faith in the great Atonement), which he offers freely to all who feel their need of it. "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The brutes perish; but man lives in another state of being when his mortal body dies. He lives in happiness or misery: but the ransom for sin is paid. "Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely."

CHAPTER III.

ANTERIOR LIMBS OF BIRDS, REPTILES, AND FISHES.

IN the wing of the bat we found the bones adapted for the extension of a sensitive membrane, the whole constituting an efficient instrument of flight. In birds, as a general rule, the anterior limbs are also constructed for flight, but in a different manner to what we see in the bat; for the efficiency of the wings depends in birds upon the extent and quality of the feathers of the pinions, which are acted upon by muscles of extraordinary vigour. If we look at the bones of a bird's wing we find them to consist of the upperarm or humerus, the fore-arm with its two bones, the ulna and the radius; and a portion analogous to the hand, consisting of wristbones (carpus) supporting a thumb, two metacarpal bones of considerable length, and, lastly, the phalanges in a rudimentary state of two