62 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



Heaven, as the Poets, and even fome Philoropliers, 

 allege, but to the Horizon ; fo that he may view, 

 at once, the Heaven which illuminates, and the 

 Earth which fupports him. His vifual rays take 

 in near half of the celeftial Hemifphere, and of 

 the plane on which he treads, and their reach ex- 

 tends from the grain of fand, which he tramples 

 under foot, to the flar which (liines over his head, 

 at an immeafurable diftance. 



He alone, of animals, can enjoy equally the day 

 and the night j he alone can bear to live within 

 the torrid Zone, and upon the ice of the frigid. 

 If certain animals are partakers with him in thefe 

 advantages, it is only by means of his inftrudions, 

 and under his protedion. For all this he is in- 

 debted to the Element of Fire, of which he alone 

 is the Sovereign Lord. Some Authors pretend, 

 that certain of the brute creation underftand the 

 management of it, and that the monkeys in Ame- 

 rica keep up the fires kindled by travellers in the 

 forefts. No one denies that they love it's heat, 

 andrefortto it for warmth, when Man retires. But 

 as they have perceived it's utility, Why have they 

 not preferved the ufe of it ? However fimple the 

 manner of keeping up fire may be, by fupplying 

 it with fuel, not one of them will ever attain to 

 that degree of fagacity. 



The 



