Delaware journal., 1827-11-02
AN ADDRESS,
Delivsrea before The Delasvare academy Of Natural
Science, By Van. Gibbons, M. d. President.

h'oteHbo, W VHt. It00OHS, W.. IL. TTeS2denE.
CONCLUDED.
To paint out the extent Of the Animal Kingdom
on our GLOBE is no more within the finite powers of
man, than to count the myriads of worlds diffused
through imitable space. We readily trace many
OF the tribes but descend in the scale of mag
nitude, the number mutipes and can discern
by the aid OF glasses. new world of beings, which
the human eye has never seen, nor the heard In
a single drop of water perceived thousand or
ganzed bodies and improvements in the Micro
scope may hereafter reveal thousands more, to which
the former may appear like great whales sporting in
the waves of the ocean
The study OF animated nature, besides being in |
separately connected with our wants and comforts, i
affords vast range for intellectual action, and use
fu contemplation. The structure and functions of
animals, as accommodated to their wants and the
circumstances in which they are placed, claim our
particular attention. The adaptation of their COW
ering to the temperature of the climate. we'll as
of particular organs to particular necessities, strikes
the most superficial observer In the elephan. the
shortness and stiffness of the neck, renders him in
capable of the necessary motion he, therefore, has
proboscs, or trunk, which he uses with surprising
dexterty. The crane. wanting web to her feet,
unable TO swim for her prey she is therefore fur
nished with long legs, neck and bill. for wading and
fishing The bat, deriving no support from her legs
and feet, is provided with remarkable hook at
the angle of her wing, by which she attaches her
self TO trees. rocks, and takes her ght from this
position. The spider. having wings to pursue his
prey. is accommodated with his web. The gossam-
er SPIDER privileged beyond the rest of the family,
, presents an exception in this case He darts forth
+ thread. throws hirsel into the air, and rides in
a balloon. The snail's viscid matter, secreted from
r her body, serves in the place Of apparatus for
climbing. The muscle. otherwise the sport of eve
nv spins thread and moors herself to fixed OBJ
iects. and rides like vessel at anchor The Daut-
, lus, when alb ut to take sail discharges quanti-
ty of water from it's little she'll. and bv substituting
air, renders itself lighter than the water: in this
manner it rises to the surface erects its arms, ex-
pands membrane between them. and is thus ,ri-
ven before the wind like vessel under sail : whilst
two other limbs. that hang the sides OF the shell
serve for oars and rlltder, occasion requires. AT
the approach of storm. it lowers its sail. drws Its
arms into the shell, and reversing the former opera
tion bvexcuding the air and receiving water, sinks
to the bottom. Bv this extraordinary creature man.
- kind. in their rude state. were taught, as is sup
;; posed. the art of navigation hence the poet:
! "Lesrn of the little Nautilus to sail,
Spread the thin and catch the driving gale
+eI The herring law rule OF action, denOminated
INSTINCT. which enables each species of the brute
creation to 'sill the circle ked by Heaven =
furnishes to the naturalist boundess region for the
exercise IF intellect where his mind is alternately
re excited with emotions of pleasure and admiration
on The ksome task to which the females of the wing
nd ed tribe submit. week after week, with much care
# and anxiety in thencubaton of their egss,the mar
rage contract of pairs of the tribe to secure ht
labours of both parents, that of one being inconpe
tent to satisfy ne cravings of a numerous brood
uniformity in the manner of constructing their nests
in birds Of the same speces-these, with NUMEROUS
other striking examples of this extraordinary gilt
bestowed on all animated nature from the nob
,ck elephant to the worm and the insect and wonder
fully adapted to the wants, defence and preservation
.C .,l,, ,I,a1
truth of the Apostolic declaration, that sthe INV
sibIe things of Col, from Il creation of the world
ate are clearly seen being understood by the things tina
the are made, even his eternal power and Godhead.
uc- independently of actions which are purely IN
stinctire there are those of a middle class, Whic
No. seem to be- in part the result of reflections pre-
senng strong plea against an exclusive cialm' 0
cr- the part of man, to the noble faculty OF reason
ets The Beaver constructs dams large streams
". water, which, in cases, have long resisle
frosts and floods, and possessed durability sedor
AN impaired TO such works by all the ingenuity OF man
b. For this purpose the animal cuts off large trees, an
e. as the labour of dragging them the ground to tn
- projected site would be difficult or impossible,
has the address to fall them tozrards or INTO, IN
zyater, By 7phch he is enabled 10 float them doom
o stream The Wasp cuts his prey into two parts
lse. when too heavy TO be carried away whoe, ana I'll
ges Spider not having instruments to perform this ope
ration supplies the defect by avallng himself oil on
of the mechanical powers for he has been see
to construct an inclined ptane by dropping two pei
pendiculars, and running lines obtaquely, IRON on
TO the other on these lines OF easy ascent, ne reat
IL ly transported body, heavier than himself, to nj
zee nest.
the ne history oi she e.euuI ~ ~ ro1ont ~
o' some extraordinary facts which seem to oexhbit III
~ combined operation Of the gifts both of reheco
and instinct