ANIMALS. 165 



place, there are animals peculiar to every part of the vegetable, so 

 hat no part of it is lost. But the greatest possible increase of life 

 would still be deficient, were there not other animals that lived upon 

 animals ; and these are themselves, in turn, food for some other 

 greater and stronger set of creatures. Were all animals to live upon 

 vegetables alone, thousands would be extinct that now have existence, 

 as the quantity of their provision would shortly fail. But, as things 

 are wisely constructed, one animal now supports another ; and thus, 

 all take up less room than they would by living on the same food ; as, 

 to make use of a similar instance, a greater number of people may be 

 crowded into the same space, if each is made to bear his fellow upon 

 his shoulders. 



To diminish the number of animals, and increase that of vegeta- 

 bles, has been the general scope of human industry ; and, if we com- 

 pare the utility of the kinds, with respect to man, we shall find, that 

 of the vast variety in the animal kingdom, but very few are service- 

 able to him ; and, in the vegetable, but very few are entirely noxious. 

 How small a part of the insect tribes, for instance, are beneficial to 

 mankind, and what numbers are injurious ! In some countries they 

 almost darken the air: a candle cannot be lighted without their in- 

 stantly flying upon it, and putting out the flame.* The closest re- 

 cesses are no safeguard from their annoyance ; and the most beautiful 

 landscapes of nature only serve to invite their rapacity. As these are 

 injurious from their multitudes, so most of the larger kinds are equally 

 dreadful to him from their courage and ferocity. In the most uncul- 

 tivated parts of the forest these maintain an undisputed empire ; and 

 man invades their retreats with terror. These are dreadful ; and there 

 are still more which are utterly useless to him, that serve to take up 

 the room which more beneficial creatures might possess ; and incom- 

 mode him rather with their numbers than their enmities. Thus, in a 

 catalogue of land animals, that amounts to more than twenty thousand, 

 we can scarcely reckon up a hundred that are any way useful to him ; 

 the rest being either all his open or his secret enemies, immediately 

 attacking him in person, or intruding upon that food he has appropri- 

 ated to himself. Vegetables, on the contrary, though existing io 

 greater variety, are but few of them noxious. The most deadly poi- 

 sons are often of great use in medicine ; and even those plants that only 

 seem to cumber the ground serve for food to that race of aninruils 

 which he has taken into friendship, or protection. The smaller tribes 

 of vegetables, in particular, are cultivated, as contributing either to 

 his necessities or amusements ; so that vegetable life is as much pro- 

 moted by human industry, as animal life is controlled and diminished. 



Hence, it was not without a long struggle, and various combinations 

 of experience and art, that man acquired his present dominion. Al- 

 most every good that he possesses was the result of the contest; for,, 

 every day, as he was contending, he was growing more wise : and pa- 

 xience and fortitude were the fruits of his industry. 



Hence, also, we see the necessity of some animals living upon each 

 fther } to fill up the plan of Providence ; and we may, consequently 



* Ulloa's Description of Guayaquil. 



