The Philosophy of Natural HistoryBrown, Taggard & Chase, 1835 - 360 pages |
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animals appearance attack bees birds birds of prey blood body bones called capable carnivorous caterpillars cavity cells Cetacea chrysalis chyle circulation climate color composed covered Crustacea Describe devour digestion distinguished earth eggs elephant existence external extremely feed feet female fishes flies furnished gastric juice give habitations hatched heat hive holes horse human inches inhabitants insects instinct kind labor larvæ legs live lungs males Mammalia manner mastication membrane migration mode motion mouth muscles nature nest neuters never nourishment objects observed operation organs ourang-outang papillæ perfect perform plants possessed prey principle produced propolis quadrupeds Reaumur remarkable Reptiles resembles respiration retina sagacity sensation sense shell situated skin society sometimes species stomach structure subclavian vein substances surface swallows tail teeth tion torpid transformation trees tribes trunk vegetable vertebral vessels wasps whole wings winter worms young Zoophytes
Popular passages
Page 153 - ... not capable of preserving animal substances from undergoing that process, the stomach itself would be digested. But we find, on the contrary, that the stomach, which at one instant, that is, while possessed of the living principle, was capable of resisting the digestive powers which it contained, the next moment, viz., when deprived of the living principle, is itself capable of being digested, either by the digestive powers of other stomachs, or by the remains of that power which it had of digesting...
Page 124 - I think it is demonstrable, that if mankind had not a natural language, they could never have invented an artificial one by their reason and ingenuity. For all artificial language supposes some compact or agreement to affix a certain meaning to certain signs ; therefore there must be compacts or agreements before the use of artificial signs : but there can be no compact or agreement without signs, nor without language ; and therefore there must be a natural language before any artificial language...
Page 297 - ... are regular, comely, and, wonderfully undisfigured by the hand of time ; his eyes are of a lively blue ; his profile is Grecian, and very fine ; his head is completely covered with the most beautiful and delicate white locks...
Page 188 - ... to the sagacity of bees. They immediately begin to lay the foundations of their combs, which they execute with surprising quickness and alacrity. Soon after they begin to construct one comb, they divide into two or three companies, each of which, in different parts of the hive, is occupied with the same operations.
Page 207 - When a breach is made in one of the walls by an ax, or other instrument, the first object that attracts attention is the behaviour of the soldiers or fighting insects. Immediately after the blow is given, a soldier comes out, walks about the breach, and seems to examine the nature of the enemy, or the cause of the attack. He then goes into the hill, gives the alarm, and in a short time large bodies rush out as fast as the breach will permit. It is not easy to describe the fury that actuates these...
Page 260 - Those nnimals which man has taken under his immediate protection are taught to perform artificial actions, or have their natural instincts improved, by three modes of instruction, punishment, reward, and imitation. More ductile in his nature than most other animals, the dog not only receives instruction with rapidity, but accommodates his behavior and deportment to the manners and habits of those who command him. He assumes the very tone of the family in which he resides. Eager, at all times, to...
Page 175 - Upon these was a layer of rushes, and over them a layer of heath, and upon the heath rushes again ; upon which lay one young one, and an addle egg ; and by them a lamb, a hare, and three heath-poults. The nest was about two yards square, and had no hollow in it.
Page 203 - Here, after they are hatched, the young are attended and provided with every thing necessary, until they are able to shift for themselves, and take their share of the labours of the community.
Page 75 - ... particulars they differ from insects. Among the most familiar examples of this class are the lobster, craw-fish, and what is usually called the horse-shoe. They are covered by a pretty thick, firm shell, which envelopes them completely. As this shell is incapable of growth, it is occasionally changed, to make room for the constant increase in size of the animal. It is thrown off, and their bodies remain for a time entirely naked, and exposed in a soft and defenceless state, In this case, the...
Page 251 - I have seen this animal present his hand to conduct the people who came to visit him, and walk as gravely along with them as if he had formed a part of the company. I have seen him sit down at table, unfold his towel, wipe his lips, use a spoon or a fork to carry...