PREFACE. WE learn from the Mosaic record, that the first act of creative power gave existence to the mighty nucleus of our globe, and that, before the revolution of seven days, the herbless granite was clothed with vegetation; moving creatures then passed through the waters, and winged fowl were seen to fly across the heavens; cattle, and creeping things, and beasts of the earth, walked forth in all the vigour of their new existence, and, lastly, man, created in the image of his Maker, had dominion over every living thing. All then was perfect; but man fell, and with him fell the fresh and beautiful Creation. My meditations on this subject have led me to pass on to the present condition of the earth, and to consider its animal and vegetable productions with an especial reference to the benefits which they confer on man. I have further observed their adaptation to different portions of the globe, and how wonderfully the most inhospitable regions are rendered habitable by the location of some peculiar species. Remarkable phenomena on the surface of the earth have been also pointed out; and in so doing I must confess my obligations to the learned author of the Comparative Estimate of the Mineral and Mosaical Geologies, and to Cuvier's Essay on the Theory of the Earth. Throughout this volume, I have ever kept in view, that the heavens, and earth were finished, and all the host of them in six days; and that no theory, however plausible, can be admitted in opposition to the Divine Record. CONTENTS. Emerging of the earth from chaos-Opinions entertained by the Jews of Alexandria, St. Jerome, and Grotius-Body of the Separation of the land and water-Formation of the Vegetable globe-Construction of various kinds of water-plants-Moral reflections-Description of the cow-tree, of the butter- tree; of the cocoa and palm trees, of the Kamtschatka sarenne, the birch, chesnut-trees, and camels'-thorn; admirable adaptation of each to the countries in which they grow-Geography of plants-Construction of such plants as are especially necessary to man-Origin of the Arts- Remarks on the sea-mat, or a species of basil, and the wild fig-tree-Instances in which plants serve to give notice of danger, as the common reed, rattle-snake plant, and parasitic guacco: as specifics-the club-moss, Peruvian bark, palma Christi, quassia, and the ginsing-Construc- tion of forest trees; beautiful formation of their blossoms First visible existence of the sun, and moon, as regards this earth Important indices for the measurement of time- Mention of the different planets; of the moon and the four recently discovered planetary bodies; of comets and the Creation of birds and fishes-Curious formation of the feathered mit of Dinas Braw at Llangollen-Migratory birds; Construction of fish-Their fitness to a watery element-Their Cetaceous animals-Spitzbergen-Poetry-Icebergs-Descrip- tion of the whale: whale fishery, dangers connected with it -Loss of the ship Essex-Ancient mode of building with the ribs of whales-Observations-Remarks on the seal- Anecdote, brief sketch of the morse and grampus-Happi- ness equally diffused: no-where more conspicuous than among the natives of the deep: illustrative observations-Beau- New creation of organized beings-Specific provisions for them. -Different kinds of covering or organs of taste, and smelling, very dissimilar in graminivorous and carnivorous animals- Love of offspring-Instincts by which different species pro- vide for the winter-Suitableness of animals to various por- tions of the globe-Instances-The bear, and reindeer; |