216 



Hie way whereby animals vary their proceedings as 

 necessity requires, furnishes one of the strongest argu- 

 ments against the opinion which transforms them into 

 mere machines. The philosopher who attributes to 

 them a soul, founds his judgment on the analogy of 

 their organs with ours, and of their actions with several 

 of ours : those who make the soul material, forget that 

 even feeling is incompatible with the properties of 

 matter. 



The greater the number of cases is to which the 

 knowledge of an animal extends, the higher is this ani- 

 mal elevated iu the scale. 



The preservation of life, the propagation of the spe- 

 cies, and the care of their young, are the three principal 

 branches of the knowledge of animals ; but ail are not 

 alike to be admired in these respects. 



The oyster knows only how fo open and close its 

 shell. 



The spider spreads a net for his prey; waits, like a 

 huntsman,, till sonic insect, falls into the snare ; hardly 

 has he touched it, before he darts upon it. Is he armed, 

 or too nimble? He fastens the lines to him with won- 

 derful skill, and thus disables it tither from flying or 

 defending itself. 



Divers species of animals live from day to day, with- 

 out taking any thought for the succeeding day ; others 

 seem endued with a kind of foresight, construct maga- 

 zines with abundance of art, which they rill with various 

 kinds of provisions : such are the lee and the leaver. 



Among animals that live by prey, some, like the eagle 

 and the lion, attack with open force ; others, as the hawk 

 and the fox, join craft to strength.. Some save their 

 lives by flight; others, by hiding themselves under the 

 earth or water; while others still have recourse to divers 

 stratagems to facilitate their flight, and evade the pur- 

 suit of their enemy. 



