NATURAL HISTORY OF MAN. 33 



dominion over other animals, either by subjecting them to his 

 use, or at least making himself the object of their fear. It is 

 in consequence of these advantages, also, that he has been 

 enabled to protect himself against the severity of climates, 

 and thus spread his species over every part of the earth. 

 Naturally tender and defenceless, he could only exist in the 

 most equable and temperate climates ; but, aided -by the inven- 

 tions and discoveries of social life, he is enabled to brave the 

 cold of the polar circle, as well as the overpowering heat of 

 the regions on the equator. 



Man is only partially governed by instinct. His knowledge 

 is the result of education and experience. He knows nothing 

 but what he has discovered himself, or what has been taught 

 him by others. By means of language and writing, the dis- 

 coveries and improvements of one generation are transmitted 

 to the next, and thus are the ground of an almost indefinite 

 progress towards perfection. Other animals, being principally 

 governed by instinct, are stationary ; they neither advance 

 nor recede in their manners or habits ; by being associated 

 one with another, they do not improve ; and, although capa- 

 ble of being educated by man, they do not educate one another. 

 The first swarm of bees that existed, probably constructed as 

 perfect a honey-comb as is done now : they do not improve 

 upon the plan which instinct has pointed out to them ; it is a 

 plan which they did not in the first place contrive, and cannot 

 amend. But if we compare the rude and ill-constructed hab- 

 itations of savage nations with the splendid and luxurious 

 edifices of civilized life, we instantly perceive the influence 

 which language, society, and education have had upon the 

 human race. We are sensible of the great difference between 

 that skill, which is the result of instinct, and that which is 

 acquired by a being capable of reasoning and speaking. 



Being thus susceptible of constant progress in improvement, 

 man is found under different circumstances in different stages 

 of this progress. In his primitive state, he supports him- 

 self upon the flesh of animals, which he destroys in the chase, 

 or upon the wild fruits of the forest. He has not, therefore, 

 time to devote to the cultivation of the arts, or to the educa- 

 tion of his children ; he learns nothing but how to construct 

 his hut and his canoe ; he clothes himself with the skins of 

 wild beasts ; and he observes the natural objects around him 

 so far only as he can make them subservient to his purposes. 

 When he comes into the possession of the domestic animals, 

 Ihe cow, the horse, the sheeo, &c., he finds that he can 



