Page 253 - Third Book of Reading Lessons

252 THIRD BOOK OF
to take in a much larger eld of view, than animals
whose eyes look straight be re them.
9. Every one knows the varied industry employed by birds in constructing their nests, and the tender care they take of their eggs and of their young: this is the principal part of their instinct. For the rest of their qualities, their rapid passage through.the di erent regions of the air, and the lively and con-• tinned action of this element upon them, enable them to anticipate the variations of the atmosphere in a manner of which we can have no idea, and om which has been attributed to them, from all antiquity, by superstition, the power of announcing ture events. They are not without memory or imagina­ tion, r they dream; and every one knows with what cility they may be tamed; may be made to per rm di erent operations, and retain airs and words. CuvmR.
LESSON XVII. ON THE LAWS OF MOTION. OHARLEs.- re you now going, papa, to describe
those machines, which you call mechanical powers?
FATHER.-We must, I believe, de r that a day or two longer, as I have a w more general principles with which I wish you previously to be acquainted.
E A.-What are these ?
FATHER.-In the rst place, you must well under­ stand what are denominated the three general laws of motion; the rst of which is, "that every body will continue in its state rest or un orm mo-