STUDY VI. 331 



do. But Nature has fenced them with thick hides, 

 with long hair, with a plumage, which protedt 

 them againft external blows. Befides, they are 

 little, if at all, expofed to cruel treatment, except 

 from the hands of bad men. 



Let us now proceed to conlider the generation of 

 animals. We have i^een that the greateft and mofb 

 numerous fpecies of the Globe, in the animal and 

 vegetable kingdoms, are produced in the North, 

 independently of the heat of the Sun. Let us now 

 enquire, whether the prolific power of fermenta- 

 tion be greater in the South. Certain Egyptians 

 told Herodotus, that particular fpecies of animals 

 were formed of the fermented mires of the Ocean, 

 and of the Nile. Whatever refpedl I have for the 

 Ancients, I abfolutely rejeft their authority in 

 Phyfics. Mofb of their Philofophers have a fuffi- 

 ciently ftriking refemblance to our own. They 

 obferved fparingly, and reafoned copioufly. If 

 fome of them, in the view of fpeaking peace to vo- 

 luptuous Princes, have advanced that every thing 

 proceeded from corruption, and returned to cor- 

 ruption again, others more honeft and fincere have 

 refuted them, even in the earlieft times. 



It is not only certain, that corruption produces 

 no one living body, but is fatal to all, efpecially 

 to thofe which have blood, and chiefly to Man. 



No 



