132 NATURAL HISTORY. 



still preserve their natural independence and ferocity ; 

 who either oppose force by force, or find safety in 

 swiftness or cunning. 



The savage animal preserves at once his liberty and 

 instinct, but man seems to have changed the very na- 

 ture of domestic animals by cultivation and care. A 

 domestic animal is a slave, which has few other de- 

 sires, but those which man is willing to grant it. 

 Humble, patient, resigned, and attentive, it fills up 

 the duties assigned, ready for labour, and content 

 with subsistence. 



Thus we, in some measure, see'nature under a con- 

 tinual constraint, in those creatures we have taught to 

 live about us ; but it is otherwise when we come to 

 examine the savage tenants of the forest, or the wil- 

 derness; there every species preserves its characteristic 

 form, and is strongly imprest with the instincts and 

 appetites of nature. The more remote from the ty- 

 ranny of mankind, the greater seems their sagacity ; 

 the Beavers, in those distant solitudes, where men 

 have rarely past, exert all the arts of architects and 

 citizens ; they build neater habitations than even the 

 rational inhabitants of those countries can shew, and 

 obey a more regular discipline than ever man could 

 boast ; but as soon as man intrudes upon their society, 

 their spirit of industry and wisdom ceases ; they no 

 longer exert their social arts, but become patient and 

 dull, as if to fit them for a state of servitude. 



But not only their industry, but their courage is 

 represt by the vicinity of man : the Lion of the de- 

 serts of Nubia, that has been only taught to measure 

 his strength with weaker animals, and accustomed to 

 conquer, i.s possessed of amazing courage ; instead of 

 avoiding man, as other ;miinals are found to do, lie 



