202 THE REASON WHY : 



" What means the bull, unconscious of his strength, to play 

 the coward, and flee before such a feeble thing as man?" BLAIK 



606. Why are, the largest quadrupeds found in Africa and 

 the largest reptiles in America? 



Africa abounds in dry deserts, and is the most luxurious as to its 

 vegetable productions, which circumstances are favourable to the 

 growth of such animals as elephants, rhinoceri, and hippopotami. 

 The vast swamps which border the great American rivers naturally 

 favour the development of the reptile order, and there abound 

 the largest species and the greatest variety. 



607. What relation exists between the elevation of temperature 

 in different zoological regions, and the organic perfection of the 

 animals inhabiting them ? 



In the hottest climates the animals are found most to approach 

 man ; and those which in each great zoological division possess the 

 organization the most complex, and the faculties most developed ; 

 whilst in the polar regions we meet only with beings occupying a 

 rank but little elevated in the zoological series. The apes, for 

 example, are limited to the hottest parts of the two continents ; it 

 is the. same with parrots among birds ; the crocodile and tortoise 

 amongst reptiles ; and of land-crabs amongst the Crustacea all 

 animals the most perfect in their respective classes. 



608. WTiy may we infer that animals are ignorant of the 

 strength which they possess ? 



Because if animals knew their strength, it would be impossible 

 to harness the horse to a vehicle, or drive an ox to the slaughter. 

 It is the fact of man being able to acquire knowledge, and animals 

 being incapable, which gives the former that power over the latter 

 by which their movements are made subservient to his will. 



609. Why are the fiercer preying animals generally solitary 

 in their habits ? 



Because their nature, but for this instinct, would lead them to 

 exert their combativeness upon each other, and so extinguish 

 iheir own species. 



