134 STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



from the animal kingdom, the other from the vege- 

 table. Now, as one of the chief objects of natural 

 history is to teach us the properties and uses of 

 natural productions, it might be argued, abstractedly, 

 that natural history is the most important and the 

 most essential science that can be conceived ; since, 

 without being acquainted with that information 

 which it is designed to teach, man could not exist 

 upon the earth. 



(79.) But if man, in his primeval state of rude- 

 ness or barbarism, had been compelled to study the 

 nature of tnose things which he needed, before he 

 had ventured to make use of them, he would have 

 wanted both the means and the opportunity ; and he 

 might have starved in the midst of plenty. He was 

 therefore prompted either by reason or by instinct — 

 certainly not by science — to use those things with 

 which nature had filled the world. He saw that 

 certain animals, which had been destined for his use 

 possessed tameness and docility ; that they frequented 

 his haunts, and even courted his protection. The 

 harmlessness of their nature was apparent ; and he 

 was in this manner, probably, led to attempt their 

 domestication, and to avail himself of their services- 

 Hence we find, that the horse, the sheep, and the 

 dog, were the mute companions of our primitive 

 races. While living, their strength diminished his 

 labour, or gave security to his property ; and when 

 dead, the greater number supplied him with food, or 

 materials for clothing. He saw, again, that these 

 animals fed only upon vegetables which were whole- 

 some, and he might be thus assisted in discriminating 



