HISTORY OF VERMONT. 153 



{hem bring forth their youni^, at that season of 

 the yeai-, when nature has made the most suita- 

 ble and ample provision, for their food and 

 support. And then they multiply with the 

 i^reatest rapid ityj when they are the least mo- 

 lested by man. But whatever be their multi- 

 plying power, it would require a long period of 

 time, before thev would arrive at that increase 

 of numbers, in Vvhieh their jprogress Would be 

 checked, by the want of food. They would 

 naturally spread over the whole continent^ be- 

 fore they arrived to such a state* This they 

 had done in every part of America, when it was 

 first discovered by tlie Europeans : Every part 

 of the continent, fitted for their nourishment 

 and growth, abounded with them* How far 

 nature may proceed this way, or what is the 

 greatest number of quadrupeds, that the uncul- 

 tivated state of any country will support, we 

 have no observations to determine. But it 

 seems probable, that the maximum had already 

 taken place ; that America contained her full 

 number of quadrupeds. No observations or 

 phenomenaj denote that there has been any in- 

 crease of these animals, in the uncultivated parts 

 of the continentj since its first discovery ; or 

 that they ever were more thick and numerous, 

 in any other part of the globe. How long a 

 period nature required to advance to this state 

 in America, 'we have no data to determine* 

 But if we may judge of the energy with which 

 she acts, from the effects of her multiplying 

 power, the conclusion will be, that in no coun- 

 try has she displayed greater povv'ers of fecundi- 

 ty than in America. These circufUsUnce* 

 vol.. ip R 



