The instinct displayed by many of the irrational creation for the preservation of their young, is also truly astonishing, and in some instances has been referred to as examples of the strongest proofs of affection. "How often," says our Saviour, "would I have gathered thy children together as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"-but there are some of this order who stand not long in need of parental protection and instruction, for the newly calved Hippopotamus on the death of his dam, will, at the sight of danger, betake himself to a place of safety in his natural element the bottom of the river This might bring me to speak more fully of thosę particular instincts by which animals are distinguished; but as I shall have occasion to notice a few of these in considering some peculiarities in the different orders as I go along I shall here drop my general survey, and proceed

to that of

QUADRUPEDS.

Of this order, it may be remarked in general, that they derive their name from the number of their legs; and this naturally occasions in those that make use of them for the purpose of walking, the prone posture by which they are distinguished; but this posture far. from incommoding them, is by the wise conformation of the other parts rendered the most commodious possible for their habits and manner of living. Quadrupeds are for the most part furnished with tails, and these are highly useful in the ab sence of arms for sweeping off vermin and troublesome animals. Having no hands to lift their food to their mouths, he necks of this order are in general proportioned to the ngth of their fore legs; their legs are made to bend in ach a direction as with the greatest ease to facilitate their otion forwards; they have, for the most part, a coverof hair or wool; and, that the weight of the head might

not

not become too heavy in the act of feeding, each of these animals is furnished with a strong tendinous insensible ligament, braced from the head to the middle of the back, which both enables them to support their burden with ease, and to recover their head at pleasure.

In the particular construction of the various species. of Quadrupeds, with their several dispositions and appetites, there are several things very remarkable; but I can only mention a few of them, in which the wisdom and goodness of God, in adapting them so wonderfully to their different situations, habits, and manner of living, are very conspi

cuous.

Animals of the graminivorous kinds, such as the Horse, the Ox, and the Sheep, are furnished with masticating organs, adapted to the soft herbage they eat ;-being of harmless dispositions they are only armed with defensive weapons, and for mutual safety associate together in herds.

Those whose natures are fierce and savage, and whose cruel dispositions, like those of the Tiger and Hyena, cannot be satisfied but at the expense of blood, come forth solitary and alone, but they are armed with fearful claws and horrid tusks, and monstrous jaws, wonderfully fitted for the seizure and destruction of their victims.

The CAMEL, doomed to traverse the parched and burn ing deserts of Arabia, where continual drought and steril ity reign, has not only a foot admirably fitted for his ele ment, and endowed with a remarkable abstinence, bu carries along with him a natural reservoir which he fill with water at every well.

The LAMA of South America, (the only original beas of burden it produced,) is remarkably sure footed, an climbs and descends with the greatest safety the cragg rocks it has to encounter, among the rugged steeps and na row paths of the Andes, though encumbered with its load

Goal

Goats range the craggy steep, and delight to crop the uncultivated heath from the mountain's brow; and behold how admirably their hollow hoofs are formed for taking bold of the rock, and with what surprising agility they bound from cliff to cliff!

Animals of the Weasel-kind, that live chiefly in holes, and feed upon vermin, are not only furnished with furs to preserve them from the damp, but have long slender flexible bodies well adapted for their various windings. The Sea-horse of the Northern Ocean, whose element is sometimes in the water, and sometimes on the ice, is not only web-footed to assist him in swimming, but has two monstrous tusks, bending down from the upper-jaw, which, together with his claws, enables him to scramble up the icy beach at pleasure. In short, the Mole is moulded in the best possible manner for his subterraneous habitation; the Squirrel for his aërial flights;-the Kangaroo for his tremendous leaps and the BAT, which unites the Quadruped with the Volatile-race, is shaped in the most convenient manner for his predatory excursions.

:

But if this remarkable accommodation of the parts, and appetites of quadrupeds to their habits and pursuits, is apt to excite our surprise, what must we think of those still more surprising and remarkable instincts by which many of them are distinguished. In their internal formation some of this order are so strikingly analogous to the human body, that it is said, some skill in physiology is necessary to be able to notice the difference; and in the external appearance of the Orang-outang, or Wild-man of the Wood, there is certainly no little resemblance* ;

but

* So much does the external appearance of this creature resemble the human, that the "Negroes imagine them to be a foreign nation come to inhabit their country, and that they do not speak for fear of

but that in which some of this species make their nighest approach to the human race, is in the superior instinctive faculty and amazing sagacity which they evince.

What wonderful prudence, foresight, and industry does the republic of Beavers display, as in a state of social compact, with an overseer at their head, each exerts his powers and contributes his exertions in raising the mole, and forming with care the fortified settlement. What sagacity does the Elephant discover as he discharges the water from his mighty trunk, in order to cool himself in midst of the burning plains of Caffraria.

Who knows not the affectionate tenderness of the Dog; the mischievous cunning of the Monkey; the inflexible per

severance

being compelled to work." They are also the only animals that imitate man in the use of weapons otherwise than what are natural, frequently attacking their enemies with sticks and stones.That they possess an eminent share of natural sagacity in the absence of reason, is evident, from the manner in which they make sheds for shelter, and go to sleep in trees for security, as well as from their descending from the mountains, when they no longer find fruits, to the sea shore in search of shell-fish. In the passage of one of these animals from Angola to England, it made many friends on board, and seemed to despise the monkies of a lower species, by avoiding that part of the ship where they were confined. BUFFON describes one of these anima's which he saw, as sitting down at table, unfolding his napkin, wiping his lips, making use of a fork or spoon, pouring out its drink into a glass, touching glasses with the person who drank with him, giving his hand to shew the company to the door that came to see him, and walk about as gravely as if he formed one of the society-all these he observes, "I have seen without any other instigation than the signs or command of his master, and often of his own accord :" he also men. tions that his deportment was grave, his movements regular, and his disposition gentle, very different from other apes. FRANCIS PRYARD relates that, in the province of Sierra Leona there is a species so strong limbed, and so industrious, that when properly trained and fed, they work like servants. QUERY. Might not some of this description, by proper training, be brought to perform some of the drudgery twohanded work in our West-India plantations? The experiment at least might be tried; and no argument can certainly be adduced against it on account of climate.

severance of the Cat in watching her prey, and the subtle artifices of the Hare, in eluding her pursuers.

The Lion, at whose tremendous roar creation flies, as if knowing the terror which his fearless form inspires, has recourse to cunning, and watches his prey in ambush, in the neighbourhood of those springs and waters to which they must necessarily come to quench their thirst.-The Bear, in autumn, betakes himself to his winter quarters, nor ventures abroad till spring has again renewed the face of the earth.-The Chamois Goat when closely pursued in his mountainous retreat, will suddenly rebound on the huntsman, and precipitate him over the rock.-The Hedgehog in winter wraps himself up in his mossy nest.— The Porcupine when almost overtaken in the pursuit, on a sudden rolls himself up, and presents to his antagonist, instead of a delicious morsel, a ball of prickles: and the Armadillo, actuated by the same unerring impulse, joins his extremities beneath his shelly covering, and rolls over the precipice unhurt, to the confusion of his enemy. But this is not all-Horses in a state of nature are not only said to keep a centinel on the out look, but when attacked join heads together and fight with their heels.-Oxen in a similar state join tails together, and fight with their horns.Swine get together in impenetrable herds to resist the attack, and what is observable in all they place the young in the middle, and keep them safe in the day of battle! These are some of the wonders of instinct ;—and can we behold them without admiration?

THE USES OF QUADRUPEDS

Are so various, and having already run out this paper farther than I intended, I must content myself with only naming a few of them. Of what great utility for the purposes of agriculture, travelling, industry, and comVOL. II.

Р

merce,