42 HISTORY of the SOCIETY. 



THOSE animals are moft perfect, whofe fphere of knowledge 

 extends to the greateft number of objects. When interrupted 

 in their operations, they know how to refume their labours, 

 and to accomplifh their purpofes by different means. Some 

 animals have no other power but that of contracting or extend- 

 ing their bodies. But the falcon, the dog, and the fox, purfue 

 their prey with intelligence and addrefs. 



IN Senegal, the oflrich fits upon her eggs only during the 

 night, leaving them in the day to the heat of the fun. At the 

 Cape of Good Hope, where the heat is not fb great, fhe fits up- 

 on them day and night. Rabbits, when domefticated, are not 

 inclined to burrow. Bees augment the depth of their cells, and 

 increafe their number, as occafion requires. A wafp carrying 

 out a dead companion from the neft, if he finds it too heavy, 

 cuts off the head, and carries out the load in two portions. In 

 countries infefted with monkeys, birds, which in other coun- 

 tries build in bufhes or clefts of trees, fufpend their nefts at the 

 end of {lender twigs. The nymphaz of water-moths, which 

 cover themfelves with cafes of draw, gravel, or fhells, contrive 

 to make their cafes nearly in equilibrium with the water : When 

 too heavy, they add a bit of wood or ftraw j when too light, 

 a bit of gravel. A cat, when (hut into a clofet, has been known 

 to open the latch with its paws. 



THE third clafs of inftincls comprehends all thofe that are 

 improveable by experience and obfervation. 



THE fuperiority of man over the other animals, feems to de- 

 pend chiefly on the great number of inftincls with which he is 

 endowed. Traces of every inftincl which he pofieffes are dif- 

 coverable in the brute- creation, but no particular fpecies enjoys 

 the whole. On the contrary, mod animals are limited to a 

 fmall number. This appears to be the reafori why the inftincls 

 of brutes are ftronger, and more fteady in their operation than 

 thofe of man, and their actions more uniform. 



MOST, 



