212 7he Coficlufwn, 



ours, not only in Degree but Kind, for their 

 particular Security and Happinefs ? 



This Suppofition would account in fome 

 Sort for the Sagacity we may obferve in eve- 

 ry Species, (which can perhaps be folved no 

 better Way) and give a clear Meaning to 

 the Word Inflinft, which is very confufed 

 at prefent : for it would then imply certain 

 Impreirions made on the Organs of Animals 

 by Things about them, for their Information 

 of what is hurtful or beneficial to them. 

 Should this be the Cafe, every Kind of Ani- 

 mal muft have Senfations diftinft and difter- 

 ent from thofe of every other Kind, and 

 what cannot poflibly be known or under- 

 ftood by them : which Difference muft be 

 alfo as various as their Organs are. And if 

 fo, w^hen we undertake to judge of the 

 Adions, Abilities and Underftanding of 

 other Creatures, we are imitating the blind 

 Man, who fuppofed that a Scarlet Colour is 

 like the Sound of a Trumpet: and there 

 may be more Truth than is commonly ima- 

 gined ill the Saying of Montaigne, when 

 he was playing with his Cat, that it was not 

 impofiible (lie might think him as great a 

 Fool as he thought her. 



If we ferioufly examine ourfelves, we Oiall 

 be fenfible how little we underftand, even 

 of thofe Things we may be fuppofed to 



know 



