396 GENERATION. Sect. XXXIX. 4. 8, 



animals of his own fpecies, who ftrike obliquely upwards, nor 

 are his tufhes for other purpofes, except to defend himfelf, as he 

 is not naturally a carnivorous animal. So the horns of the ft 

 are (harp to offend his adversary, but are branched for the pur- 

 pofe of parrying or receiving the thru ft s of horns fimilar to his 

 own, and have therefore been formed for the purpofe of com- 

 bating other flags for the exclufive poffefiion of the females ; 

 who are obferved, like the ladies in the times of chivalry, to at- 

 tend the car of the victor. 



The birds, which do not carry food to their young, and do 

 not therefore marry, are armed with fpurs for the purpofe of 

 fighting for the exclufive poffellion of the females, as cocks and 

 quails. It is certain that thefe weapons are not provided for 

 their defence againft other adverfaries, becaufe the females of 

 thefe fpecies are without this armour. The final caufe of this 

 conteft amongft the males feems to be, that the ftrongef}: and 

 mod active animal fhould propagate the fpecies, which fhouki 

 thence become improved. 



Another great want confifts in the means of procuring foci, 

 which has diverlified the forms of all fpecies of animals. Thus 

 the nofe of the fwine has become hard for the purpofe of turn- 

 ing up the foil in fearch of infects and of roots. The trunk of 

 the elephant is an elongation of the nofe for the purpofe of pull- 

 ing down the branches of trees for his food, and for taking up 

 water without bending his knees. Beads of prey have acquired 

 ftrong jaws or talons. Cattle have acquired a rough tongue 

 and a rough palate to pull off the blades of grafs, as cows and 

 iheep. Some birds have acquired harder beaks to crack nuts, as 

 the parrot. Others have acquired beaks adapted to break the 

 harder feeds, as fparrows. Others for the fofter feeds of flowers, 

 or the buds of trees, as the finches. Other birds have acquired 

 long beaks to penetrate the moifter foils in fearch of infects or 

 roots, as woodcocks ; and others broad ones to filtrate the water 

 of lakes, and to retain aquatic infects, as ducks. All which 

 feem to have been gradually produced during many generations 

 by the perpetual endeavour of the creatures to fupply the want 

 of food, and to have been delivered to their poflerity with conftant 

 improvement of them for the purpofes required. 



The third great want amongft animals is that of fecurity, 

 which feems much to have diverlified the forms of their bodies 

 and the colour of them ; thefe coniift in the means of efcaping 

 other animals more powerful than themfelves. Hence fome 

 animals have acquired wings inftead of legs, as the fmaller birds, 

 for the purpofe of efcape. Others great length of fin, or of mem- 

 brane, as the flying ftth, and the bat. Others great fwiftnefs 



of 



