498 SCIENCE OF AGRICULTURE. Part II. 



guard them.'are circumstances on which we ought to bestow the most sorlipulous attention, in order to in- 

 sure success. There are many animals which can call forth but few counteracting energies, and, conse- 

 quently, cease to thrive, upon the slightest alteration taking place in their physical condition. With 

 others, the case is very different, and these we can easily naturalise. They can accommodate themselves 

 to a variety of new conditions, and successfully resist the destructive tendency of the changes to which we 

 subject them. 



1982. The change in the condition of the animals we wish to naturalise, should, in all cases, be brought 

 about as slowly as circumstances may permit. In this manner, the first counteracting effects of the system 

 grow into organical habits, before all the evils of the situation are experienced, in which they are destined 

 ultimately to reside. In this gradual manner, man has become fitted to reside in every climate, as well as 

 many of the animals which he has reclaimed. 



1983. The total number of species of animals hitherto described exceeds fifty thousand ; 

 but of these, upwards of forty thousand are insects or reptiles. 



1 984. The British Fauna, or number of species of animals, native or naturalised in 

 Great Britain, might be arranged as residents, periodical visitants, irregular visitants 

 extirpated, extinct and naturalised animals. But, as Dr. Fleming has observed, British 

 zoologists have paid little or no attention to the geographical distribution of the native 

 animals. Species which really live in the country are associated with such as viftit it 

 periodically, and with those which have been extirpated, have become extinct, or have 

 been naturalised. The consequence is, that it is difficult to form a correct view of either 

 the number or characters of our native animals. 



Chap. VII. 

 Of the Economical Uses of Animals. 



1985. On the importance of animals in the arts as laborers, as furnishing food, cloth- 

 ing, medicine, and materials for various manufactures, it is needless to enlarge. 



1986. As laborers the quadrupeds are almost solely employed; and of these the most 

 universally useful is the horse, and next the ox and the ass. Without the constant use 

 of these animals, the general economy of civilised life in the temperate climates, and 

 more or less in every climate, would be entirely altered ; as would be the economy of 

 Arabia, and many parts of Africa without the use of the camel. The dog is valuable as a 

 messenger and watching animal, and has been and is employed in that capacity in all 

 ages and countries. 



1987. As articles of food man employs animals belonging to every class, from the 

 quadruped to the zoophyte. In some cases, he makes choice of a part only of an animal, 

 in other cases, he devours the whole. He kills and dresses some animals, while he 

 swallows others in a live state. The taste of man exhibits still more remarkable differ- 

 ences of a rational kind. The animals which are eagerly sought after by one tribe, are 

 neglected or despised by another. Even those which are prized by the same tribe in one 

 age, are rejected by their descendants in another. Thus the seals and porpoises, which, 

 a few centuries ago, were eaten in Britain, and were presented at the feasts of kings, are 

 now rejected by the poorest of the people. 



1988. Those quadrupeds and birds which feed on grass or grain, are generally preferred by man to 

 those which subsist on flesh or fish. Even in the same animal, the flesh is not always of the same color 

 and flavor, when compelled to subsist on different kinds of food. The feeding of black cattle with barley 

 straw, has always the effect of giving to their fat a yellow color. Ducks fed on grain have flesh very 

 different in flavor from those which feed on fish. The particular odor of the fat of some animals seems to 

 pass into the system unchanged, and, by its presence, furnishes us with an indication of the food which has 

 been used. 



1989, While many kinds qf animals are rejected as useless, there are others which are carefully avoid- 

 ed as poisonous. Among quadrupeds and birds, none of these are to be found, while, among fishes and 

 moUusca, several species are to be met with, some of which are always deleterious to the human constitu- 

 tion, while others are hurtful only at particular seasons. 



1990. The use qf skins as articles of dress, is nearly coeval with otir race. With Jhe 

 progress of civilisation, the fur itself is used, or the feathers, after having been subjected 

 to a variety of tedious and frequently complicated processes. Besides the hair of quad- 

 rupeds, and the feathers of birds used as clothing, a variety of products of the animal 

 kingdom, as bone, shells, pearls, and corals, are employed as ornaments of dress, in all 

 countries, however different in their degree of civilisation. 



1991. Medicine. The more efficient products of the mineral kingdom have in the 

 progress of the medical art in a great measure superseded the milder remedies furnished 

 by animals and vegetables. The blister-fly, however, still remains without a rival ; and 

 the leech is often resorted to, when the lancet can be of no avail. 



1992. The arts. The increase of the wants of civilised life calls for fresh exertions to 

 supply them, and the animal kingdom still continues to furnish a copious source of ma- 

 terials for the arts. Each class presents its own peculiar offering, and the stores which 

 yet remain to be investigated, appear inexhaustible. 



