that the simple S&rick appears inferior, in point of urs- 

 del-standing, to tlte lion pismire, \vlucii is placed SO 

 much beneath it in respect Ho structure! 



liet us not mistake. The marks of understanding 

 exhibited to us, in some insects, are surprising ; inas- 

 much, as \ve do not expect to meet with them iu those 

 animals we scarce think capable of feeling : our imagi- 

 nation is warmed, and we ascribe to those insects more 

 genius than they really have. 



On tlie contrary, we form high expectations from 

 larger animals ; so that we are very apt to degrade them, 

 as soon as we perceive they fall beneath the idea we en- 

 tertained of them. There are some, however, whose 

 mind does not display* itself by striking marks, but by 

 a great number of less sensible ones; .which,, being 

 united, form a degree of understanding superior to that 

 of the most industrious- insect. Such, without doubt, 

 would appear to be the case of the ostrich* were she 

 better observed : we reproach her with indifference to- 

 wards her eggs i It is affirmed, li^at she leaves the care 

 of hatching then* to the sun. This reproach is turned 

 into a commendation with regard to t e ostriches of 

 Senegal ; since an exact observer has bee 'owed on them 

 the attention they require. In these scorching climates, 

 the sun sufficiently heats, in the day-time, an. ostrich's 

 eggs,, that'- a re iiid-- in the- sand 5 the warmth of the- mo- 

 ther would be then unnecessaiy, or even hurtful to 

 them : s..e would keep the sun front them, whose rays 

 are more active and efficacious. But the nighrs in Se- 

 negal are very cool, and the eggs would be in danger of 

 growing cold j then the mother never fails to procure 

 them heat, by sitting, upon them during that tune. 



At the Cape of Good-Hope, where it is not so hot as 

 at Senegal, the ostrich sits night and day, like other 1 

 birds-. The young ones peck in a itw hours' after they 

 are hatched;* butlhey ate 'not able to walk till several 



