STUDY I. 



55 



In the FOURTH part, which treats of Animals, 

 I fhall purfuethe fame track. I fhall prefent, firfl, 

 their relations to the Elements. Beginning with 

 that of Fire, I fliall confider the relation which 

 ihey have to the Luminary which is the fource of 

 it, from their eyes furnifhed with lids and lafhes, 

 to moderate the luflre of his light; from that 

 flate of torpitude, called fleep, into which moft of 

 them fall, when he is no longer above the Hori- 

 zon ; and by the colour of their fkin, and the 

 thicknefs of their furs, correfponding to their dif- 

 tance from him, 



We fhall then trace the relations in which they 

 ftand to the Air, by their attitude, their weight, 

 their hghtnefs, and the organs of refpiration ; to 

 the Water, by the various curves of their bodies, 

 the unduofity of their hair and plumage, their 

 fcales and fins ; and, finally, to the Earth, by the 

 form of their feet, fometimes forked, or armed with 

 prongs and claws, adapted to a hard foil, fome- 

 times broad, or furniflied with a hide, fuited to a 

 yielding foil, and by other means of progreffion-, 

 which Nature has varied, in proportion to the ob- 

 flacles which are to be furmounted. 



On the whole of this we fhall obferve, as in the 

 cafe of Plants, that fo many configurations, fo dif- 

 ferent, far from being, in animals, mechanical ef- 



E 4 fects 



