and ^aliiies of other Creatures. 145 



try the wind every way for advantage, yet, in 

 all the ihifts fhe makes, I never obferved 

 this quaUty of failing by the ear, both being 

 fVriiflly engaged on receiving the fmalleft 

 found of the Greyhound behind, by which 

 ihe accordingly, more or lefs, retards or in- 

 creafes her celerity. There is nothing 

 more plain and certain, than that Providence 

 hath endued every creature with fome ex- 

 cellence peculiar to itfelf : to one, endow- 

 ments proper for prefervation and defence ; 

 to another, means neceffary for the attain- 

 ment of food and nourishment. 



Afk a Country Fellow at dufk of the 

 evening, why yon Owl fits on the barn door, 

 or perches upon the gate-poft, rail, or 

 beam ? He will prefently inform you, he is 

 watching for a Moufe. But a man that is 

 no very eminent Naturalift knows the Owl 

 is hearkening rather than looking for a 

 Moufe; for Owls have ears, and delicate ones, 

 I alTure you, on which they depend for their 

 fuftenance, in an equal, nay greater degree 

 than the eyes. Their ears give them the 

 iirft and earlieft notice of the motion of prey, 

 L long 



