$5 



lence, Between the corme-rant and sufallow, the par- 

 fridge and vulture, tlie kumming-lird and ostrich, the 

 OH;/ and peacock, the raven arid nightingale, what a 

 surprising variety is there of structure, proportion, 

 colour, and song ! 



22. Hairy birds having projecting ears, a mouth fur- 

 ui.slu'd with teeth, and whose body is carried on four 

 paws, urined with claws, are they birds in reality? Are 

 quadrupeds, that fly by the assistance of crreat membra- 

 neous wings, really such? The bat and flying-squirrel 

 are these strange animals, which are so proper for estab- 

 lishing the gradation that subsists between all the pro- 

 ductions of nature. The ostrich, with the feet of a 

 goat, which rather runs than flies, seems to be another 

 link which unites birds to quadrupeds. 



The class of quadrupeds is not inferior in variety to 

 that of birds. Those are two perspectives of a differ- 

 ent taste, but which have some analogous points of 

 view. Carnivorous quadrupeds answer to birds of prey. 

 Quadrupeds that live on herbs, -or seeds, answer to birds 

 that feed on the same kind of aliment. The screech- 

 owl among"- birds is the same as the cat among four- 

 footed animals. Tire leaver seems answerable to the 

 (mck. Quadrupeds may be divided into two principal 

 classes. The first comprehends quadrupeds with a solid' 

 foot; the second comprises quadrupeds whose feet are 

 furnished with claws, or toes. Amongst quadrupeds of 

 the first class, from the stag to the hog, and those of 

 the second, from the lio?i to the ?nouse, what a diversity 

 of models, sizes, and motions, do we observe ! 



By what degrees does nature raise herself up to 

 man? 



How will she rectify this head, that is always inclined 

 towards the earth? How change these paws into flexi- 

 ble arms! What method will she make use of to trans- 

 form these crooked feet into suple and skilful hands 1 

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