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INTRODUCTION, XXIK 
of the animals. particularly with regard to the mould of the 
body. But few will be found to doubt, that fuch a difpo- 
fition is commonly connected with fome  characteriftics of 
‘the general frame, (conftituting what is commonly called 
kindlinefs;) as for inftance, that the fmaller and finer the 
head and neck, the finer and clearer the horn, the more 
lively the eye, the cleaner and more delicate the mouth and 
nofe, the ftraiter the back, the deeper the body, the fmaller 
the bone below the knee, the thinner and loofer the fkin, 
the finer the hair, &c. the greater is the probability of ex- 
peditious and profitable fattening. 
That cafual inftances of fach fattening may be found, 
where fome of thefe charaieriftics are wanting, will 
not be denied; for there are, throughout nature, particular 
exceptions to general rules, which it may be dificult to 
account for on any generally-acknowledged principles; but 
if general rules be foundly eftablifhed, (as we have before 
had occafion to remark) the cafual exceptions furnifh no 
_ folid arguments againft their adoption. On the contrary, 
in proportion as general rules are found to be ufeful guides 
in the choices men are to ‘make, the more important it be- 
comes that they be carefully ftudied and regarded in prac- 
tice. The ftrength of prejudice is great; and the opera- 
tion of prejudice in favour of thofe animals which have 
long obtained in a diftriét, is with difficulty overcome. 
Men of the fame purfuits are commonly prone to hope, 
that they and their forefathers have not been deceived, or 
have not been blameable'in their want of enquiry and their 
habits of reafoning; and it requires more opennefs to con- 
viclion, than men of moderate information are commonly 
capable of, to be ready to admit an erroneous judgment at 
the expence of their own pre-fuppofed knowledge. And 
too many are to be found, who apparently would rather 
continue 
