QUADRUPEDS. O7 



the climate, a circumstance which shews the wisdom 

 of Providence, in providing for the necessities of all 

 creatures. On the disposition and character of ani- 

 mals, the influence of climate is very perceptible, 

 and more easily ascertained in regard to the brute 

 creation, than the human species. Man is so much 

 the creature of association, imitation, and habit, and 

 so powerfully influenced by moral causes, as to ren- 

 der it impossible to determine in what degree he is 

 affected, or how far his character is formed by those 

 of a physical nature. External impressions are sen- 

 sibly felt by every thing that has life, and both ra- 

 tional and irrational beings must in a greater or less 

 degree be subject to their influence. If, however, 

 in man the effects of; situation, and other physical 

 circumstances, be difficult to distinguish from those 

 of social institution and moral habits, this difficulty 

 does not exist in a view of the brute creation ; and 

 the effects of climate and aliment are unequivocal : 

 for between the tropics the same kind of animals are 

 extremely different from what they are in temperate 

 climates ; in the former they are more ferocious and 

 daring, in the latter more timid and mild.- 



After this general survey, I shall endeavour to vary 

 the scene by proceeding' to individual description, 

 in which you will find these remarks exemplified, 

 and recalled to your memory. The number of dis- 

 tinet .species, 'in the class of quadrupeds, is usually 

 stated at about two hundred, or . two hundred and 

 twenty. Late authors have enumerated two hundred 

 and eighty, and some have even sub-divided them in- 

 to upwards of four hundred ; for in these cases dis- 

 tinctions may be multiplied according' to opinion or 

 fancy. You will easily conceive, that amidst your 

 other pursuits, your time would not suffice for a mi- 

 nute investigation of each particular subject. I shall, 

 therefore, endeavour rather to generalize, than enu- 

 merate, and without entering into tedious details, ex- 

 hibit to your view the great and marked outlines of 

 natural history, with which every gentleman ought 

 to be acquainted. In the view of uniting pleasure 



