The reason why : $b a careful collection of many hundreds of reasons for things which, though generally believed, are imperfectly understood. A book of condensed scientific knowledge for the million
John Stuart Mill · en
the heat, to which the fatty matter presents itself as a
non-conductor. We see, therefore, that there are two express
provisions for the cooling of the negroes' skin, independent of
the colour. The skin of the Esquimaux who inhabits a cold country
is _white_, though it might be supposed that a black skin would
best conduce to the warmth of his body. But the Esquimaux has,
underneath his skin, _a thick coating of fat_, by which the
_internal heat_ of the body is prevented from escaping.
This _resume_ of the subjects embodied in the form of question
and answer in the previous pages, will serve to impress the more
important truths upon the mind of the reader, while it has enabled
us to fill up many omissions necessitated by the arbitrary form of
catechetical composition.
[Verse: "Ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the
fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee."--JOB XII.]
CHAPTER LII.
1029. _Why are there so many bodily forms in the animal creation?_
Because the various creatures which God has created have different
modes of life, and the forms of their bodies will be found to present
_a perfect adaptation to the lives allotted to them_.
Because, also, the beauty of creation _depends upon the variety of
objects of which it consists_. And the greatness of the Creator's power
is shown _by the diversity of ends accomplished by different means_.
1030. _Why are birds covered with feathers?_
Because they require a high degree of _warmth_, on account of the
activity of their muscles; but in providing that warmth it was
necessary that their coats should be of the _lightest material_, so as
not to impair their powers of flight; and feathers combine the _highest
warming power, with the least amount of weight_.
1031. _Why have ostriches small wings?_
Because, having long legs, they do not require their wings for flight;
they are merely used _to steady their bodies while running_.
1032. _Why are ostrich feathers soft and downy?_
Because, as the feathers are not employed for flight, the _strength of
the feather as constructed for flying is unnecessary_, and the feathers
therefore consist chiefly of a soft down.
1033. _Why have water-birds feathers of a close and smooth texture?_
Because such feathers keep the body of the bird warm and dry, by
repelling the water from their surface. A bird could scarcely move
through the water, with the downy feathers of the ostrich, because of
_the amount of water the down would absorb_.
1034. _Why is man born without a covering?_
Because _man is the only animal that can clothe itself_. As in the
various pursuits of life he wanders to every part of the globe, he can
adapt himself _to all climates and to any season_.
[Verse: "Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and
maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?"--JOB XXXV.]
1035. _Why do the furs of animals become thicker in the winter than in
the summer?_