230 On Tunis Sheep. 
are the companions of their protector,—man ; and are 
always near them. Dogs, ’tis true, are often tutored to 
guard them ; as Arabian robbers are engaged to protect 
Caravans, from other banditti. But among dogs, their 
foes far out number their friends. Wolves are forever 
prowling after them, in all countries. Yet every where 
they lap their ears ; though every where, there are un- 
ceasing occasions for erecting them; were the capacity 
of so doing in their nature. It does not appear that their 
causes of apprehension, cease with domestication. 
I have dilated on this subject, not merely for the sake 
of discussion ; but to prevent (as far as in my small 
powers lies) the /ap-ear sharing the fate of the broad- 
tail: and (is a guardian to my dumb wards,) to rescue 
the animal from the imputation of not being one of 
God’s creatures, ‘‘ drought forth after its kind,’—but 
a factitious product “ whimsically’’ formed by the in- 
tervention of “the art of man.’”?—And yet, I feel a little 
ashamed of taking any pains to prove, what seems self- 
evident. * 
Ricuarp PETERS. 
May 22d, 1810. 
* It is as difficult as vain, to oppose serious refutation to 
fanciiul conjecture. I have thereiore, as much as possible, 
avoided it. Those the best qualified in grave and logical dis- 
cussions would only excite a smile, by applying them in ops 
position to Lord Alonboddo’s phantasm of the human tail. 
No one would gravely combat an hypothetical assertion, that, 
because a negro appears a variety of the human species, he 
is an hybridous African animal. Indeed, those of this race 
have been treated as if it really were so: save that the “ art 
