ANIMALS. 



211 



The food also is another cause of the va- 

 riety which \ve rind among quadrupeds of the 

 same kind. Thus the beasts which feed in 

 the valley are generally larger than those 

 which glean a scanty subsistence on the moun- 

 tain. Such as live in the warm climates, where 

 the plants are much larger and moresucculcnt 

 than with us, are equally remarkable for their 

 bulk. The ox fed in the plains of Indostan, 

 is much larger than that which is more hardi- 

 ly maintained on the side of the Alps. The 

 deserts of Africa, where the plants areextreme- 

 ly nourishing, produce the largest and fiercest 

 animals ; and, perhaps for a contrary reason, 

 America is found not to produce such large 

 animals as are seen in the ancient continent. 

 But, whatever be the reason, the fact is certain, 

 that while America exceeds us in the sixe of 

 its reptiles of all kinds, it is far inferior in its 



auadruped productions. Thus, for instance, 

 le largest animal of that country is the tapir, 

 which can by no means be compared to the 

 elephant of Africa. Its beasts of prey, also, 

 are divested of that strength and courage 

 which is so dangerous in this part of the world. 

 The American lion, tiger, and leopard, if such 

 diminutive creatures deserve these names, are 

 neither so fierce nor so valiant as those of 

 Africa and Asia. The tiger of Bengal has been 

 seen to measure twelve feet in length, without 

 including the tail: whereas the American ti- 

 ger seldom exceeds three. This difference 

 obtains still more in the other animals of that 

 country, so that some have been of opinion" 

 that all quadrupeds in Southern America are 

 of a different species from those most resem- 

 bling them in the old world ; and that there 

 are none which are common to both, but such 

 as have entered America by the north ; and 

 which, being able to bear the rigours of the 

 frozen pole, have travelled from the ancient 

 continent, by that passage, into the new. 

 Thus the bear, the wolf, the elk, the stag, 

 the fox, and the beaver, are known to the in- 

 habitants as well of North America as of 

 Russia ; while most of the various kinds to 

 the southward, in both continents, bear no re- 

 semblance to each other. Upon the whole, 

 such as peculiarly belong to the new conti- 

 nent are w ithout any marks of the quadruped 



a Buffon. 

 NO. 19 & 20. 



perfection. They are almost wholly destitute 

 of the power of defence ; they have neither 

 formidable teeth, horns, or tail; their figure 

 is awkward, and their limbs ill proportioned. 

 Some among them, such as the ant-bear and 

 the sloth, appear so miserably formed, as 

 scarcely to have the power of moving and 

 eating. They, seemingly, drag out a misera- 

 ble and languid existence in the most desert, 

 solitude; and would quickly have been de- 

 stroyed in a country where there were inha- 

 bitants, or powerful beasts to oppose them. 



But if the quadrupeds of the new continent 

 be less, they arc found in much greater abun- 

 dance; for it is a rule that obtains through 

 nature, that the smallest animals multiply the 

 fastest. The goat, imported from Europe to 

 South America, soon begins to degenerate ; 

 but as it grows less it becomes more prolific ; 

 and, instead of one kid at a time, or two at 

 the most, it generally produces live, and some- 

 times more. What there is in the food, or 

 the climate, that produces this change, we 

 have not been able to learn; we might be 

 apt to ascribe it to the heat, but that on the 

 African coast, where it is still hotter, this rule 

 does not obtain ; for the goat, instead of de- 

 generating there, seems rather to improve. 



However, the rule is general among all 

 quadrupeds, that those which are large and 

 formidable produce but few at a time ; while 

 such as are mean and contemptible are ex- 

 tremely prolific. The lion, or tiger, have sel- 

 dom above two cubs at a litter; while the cat, 

 that is of a similar nature, is usually seen to 

 have five or six. In this manner, the lower 

 tribes become extremely numerous : and, but 

 for this surprising fecundity, from their natu- 

 ral weakness they would quickly be extir- 

 pated. The breed of mice, for instance, would 

 have long since been blotted from the earth, 

 were the mouse as slow in production as the 

 elephant. But it has been wisely provided, 

 that such animals as can make but little re- 

 sistance, should at least have a means ef re- 

 pairing the destruction, which they must of- 

 ten suffer, by their quick reproduction; that 

 they should increase even among enemies, 

 and multiply under tbe hand of the destroyer. 

 On the other hand, if has as wisely been or- 

 dered by Providence, that the larger kinds 

 should produce but slowly; otherwise, as they 

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