with him, giving his hand to shew the company to the door who 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 mentions, 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 Leone there is a species so strong limbed, and so industrious, that when properly trained and fed, they work like servants.

But to proceed; 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 exerting his powers and contributing 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 the midst of the burning plains of Caffraria!

Who knows not the affectionate tenderness of the Dog, the mischievous cunning of the Monkey, the inflexible perseverance 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 Hedge-hog in winter wraps himself up in his mossy seat. 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 lookout, 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 an 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, that we must content ourselves with only naming a few of them. Of what great

utility for the purposes of agriculture, travelling, industry, and commerce, is that docile and tractable animal the Horse! In what a variety of ways do those of the Ox and Sheep kind administer to our wants! and, happily for the world, these creatures are most extensively diffused, from the polar circle to the equator.

Goats, in many of the mountainous parts of Europe, constitute the wealth of the inhabitants: they lie upon their skins, convert their milk into cheese and butter, and feed upon their flesh. The Reindeer, to the inhabitants of the icy regions, supply the place of the horse, the cow, the sheep, and the goat. The Camel is to the Arabian what the Reindeer is to the Laplander. The flesh of the Elk is palatable and nutritious, and of his skin the Indians make snow-shoes and canoes. The Elephant, in warm countries, is useful as a beast of burden, and draws as much as six horses.

What an unwearied pattern of unremitting exertion and fidelity is that invaluable animal the shepherd's Dog! What humane and excellent life preservers, the Newfoundland species! and what sagacious guides and safe conductors are that useful breed, trained in the Alpine solitudes, to carry provisions to the bewildered traveller, and lead his steps to the hospitable convent!

To what a number of depredators would our substance be exposed, were it not for that convenient and agile, but often ill-fated domestic animal, the Cat; which, in consequence of an ill-founded pre

judice excited against her for those very habits and propensities which render her valuable, and were implanted in her nature for the best of purposes, often becomes the victim of unfeeling boys, and often, too often, alas! is made the sport of more unfeeling barbarians, who deserve not the name of men. The Ichneumon is to the Egyptians, in several respects, what the Cat is to us; but far from thinking of hanging her up in a barrel, and amusing themselves with her sufferings, that more grateful people have worshipped the Ichneumon as an emanation of the Deity! Cannot our more soberminded countrymen adopt a conduct between the two extremes, and at least treat the purring race with kindness? Animals of the Weasel kind furnish us with a number of rich and valuable furs the Civet, the Genet, and the Musk, with a supply of perfumes; the tusks of the Elephant and the Seahorse with ivory; the beautiful skin of the Tiger decorates the seats of justice of the mandarins of the East; the flesh of the White Bear is eaten by the Greenlander, that of the Leopard is much relished by the African; and the Lion, even the Lion, the living tomb of so many creatures, is frequently eaten by the Negroes at the last!

We have reason to be thankful that in our happy country we are abundantly supplied with food of a more harmless nature, and much easier to be obtained than those formidable monsters of the desert, and that when taking a solitary ramble through our peaceful fields, we have no occasion to adopt

;

the following sentiments of the poet, so feelingly expressed :

"What if the Lion in his rage I meet?

Oft in the dust I view his printed feet;

By hunger rous'd, he scours the groaning plain,
Gaunt Wolves and sullen Tigers in his train;
Before them Death with shrieks directs their way,
Fills the wild yell, and leads them to their prey."

CHAP. VI. .

ON THE VARIETIES OF ANIMALS.

"To all has Nature given a bound precise
Of being and perfection; and promulg'd
To every varying rank, her varying laws;
Urging to this, from that restraining firm."

In the science of natural history, philosophers have found it expedient to arrange objects first under a few grand divisions, and then to divide, and afterwards subdivide these in the following manner. The most general divisions are called Classes; each class is again divided into several lesser parts, which are called Orders; each order contains a certain number of Genera; each genus consists of several Species; and each species contains certain Varieties, which is the smallest subdivision that they have taken notice of. It is this lowest link of their chain of classification which will form the subject of the present chapter.