ANIMALS. 179 



In this manner, as those animals are the best that are produced 

 singly, so we find that the noblest animals are ever the least fruitful. 

 These are seen usually to bring forth but one at a time, and to place 

 all their attention upon that alone. On the other hand, all the 

 oviparous kinds produce an amazing plenty ; and even the lower tribes 

 of viviparous animals increase in a seeming proportion to their mi- 

 nuteness and imperfection. Nature seems lavish of life in the lower 

 orders of the creation ; and, as if she meant them entirely for the 

 use of the nobler races, she appears to have bestowed greater pains 

 in multiplying the number than in completing the kind. In this man- 

 ner, while the elephant and the horse bring forth but one at a time, 

 the spider and the beetle are seen to produce a thousand ; and even 

 among the smaller quadrupeds, all the inferior kinds are extremely 

 fertile ; any one of these being found, in a very few months, to be- 

 come the parent of a numerous progeny. 



In this manner, therefore, the smallest animals multiply in the 

 greatest proportion ; and we have reason to thank Providence that 

 the most formidable animals are the least fruitful. Had the lion and 

 the tiger the same degree of fecundity with the rabbit or the rat, all 

 the arts of man would be unable to oppose these fierce invaders ; and 

 we should soon perceive them become the tyrants of those who claim 

 the lordship of the creation. But Heaven, in this respect, has wisely 

 consulted the advantage of all. It has opposed to man only such 

 enemies as he has art and strength to conquer ; and as large animals 

 require proportional supplies, nature was unwilling to give new life, 

 where it, in some measure, denied the necessary means of sub- 

 sistence. 



In consequence of this pre-established order, the animals that are 

 endowed with the most perfect methods of generation, and bring forth 

 but one at a time, seldom begin to procreate till they have almost 

 acquired their full growth. On the other hand, those which bring 

 forth many, engender before they have arrived at half their natural 

 size. The horse and the bull come almost to perfection before they 

 begin to generate ; the hog and the rabbit scarcely leave the teat be- 

 fore they become parents themselves. In whatever light, therefore, 

 we consider this subject, we shall find that all creatures approach 

 most to perfection, whose generation most nearly resembles that of 

 man. The reptile produced from cutting is but one degree above the 

 vegetable. The animal produced from the egg is a step higher in the 

 scale of existence ; that class of animals which are brought forth 

 alive, are still more exalted. Of these, such as bring forth one at a 

 time are the most complete : and the foremost of these stands Man, 

 t/ie great master of all } who seems to have united the peifections of 

 all the rest in his formation. 



CHAPTER III. 



THE INFANCY OP MAN. 



WHEN we take a survey of the various classes of animals, and ex- 

 umine their strength, their beauty, or their structure, we shaL find 

 man to possess most of those advantages united, wWUH the rest enjoy 



