326 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



and fo much the rather, as it affords me an oppor- 

 tunity of prefenting fome obfervations which I 

 confider as at lead new, if not worthy of attention. 



Firft of all, Beafts of prey are neceflary. What 

 othervvife would become of the carcafes of fo many 

 animals, which perifh both on the land and in the 

 water, and which they would, confequently, poifon 

 with infedion. Several fpecies of carnivorous ani- 

 mals, it mail be allowed, devour their prey while 

 yet living. But who can tell whether, in this, they 

 do not tranfgrefs the law of their nature ? Man 

 knows very little of his own Hifcory. How is it 

 pofiible he (hould know that of the beads ? Cap- 

 tain Cook obferved, in a defert illand of the Sou- 

 thern Ocean, that the fea-lions, the fea-calves, the 

 white bears, the fots, the eagles, the vultures, 

 lived in perfect concord, no one tribe giving the 

 leaft difturbance to another. I have obferved a fimi- 

 lar good agreement among the fool and the frigat 

 of the Illand of Afcenfion. But, after all, we muft 

 not compliment them too highly on their modera- 

 tion. It was merely an aflbciation of plunderers j 

 they lived peaceably together, that they might de- 

 vour, unmolefted, their common prey, the fifhes, 

 which they all gulped down alive. 



Let us revert to the great principle of Nature. 

 She has made nothing in vain. She deftines few 



animals 



