OFNATURE. gg 



iJorfes chiefly refort to woods, and feed up- 

 on leafy plants. 



Nay, fo various is the appetite of animals, 

 that there is fcarcely any plant, which is not 

 chofen by fome, and left untouched by others. 

 The horfe gives up the water hemlock to the 

 goat. The cow gives up the long-leaved wa- 

 ter hemlock to the fheep. T\\q goqi give^ up 

 the monks-hood to the horfe, &c. for that 

 which certain animals grow fat upon, others 

 abhor as poifon. Hence no plant is abfolutely 

 poifonous, but only refpedively. Thus tiie 

 fpurge^ that is noxious to man, is a moil whole- 

 fome nourifhment to the caterpillar^ Fn. 825. 

 That animals may not deflroy themfelves for 

 v/ant of knowing this law, each of them is 

 guarded by fach a delicacy of tafle and fmell, 

 that they can eafily diilinguifh what is pernici- 

 ous from what is wholefome ; and when it hap- 

 pens that difierent animals live upon the fime 

 plants, fcill one kind always leaves fomething 

 for the other, as the mouths of all are not 

 equally adapted to lay hold of the grals ; by 

 which means there is fufficient food for all. 

 To this may be referred an oeconomical expe- 

 riment v/ell known to the Dutch, that when 

 eight cov/s have been in a pailure, and can no 



H 2 longer 



