ANIMALS. 273 



nature into four classes ; namely Quadrupeds, Birds, Fishes, and In- 

 sects. All these seem in general pretty well distinguished from each 

 other by nature ; yet there are several instances in which we can 

 scarce tell whether it is a bird or a quadruped that we are about to 

 examine ; whether it is a fish or an insect that offers to our curiosity. 

 Nature is varied by imperceptible gradations, so that no line can bo 

 drawn between any two classes of its productions, and no definition 

 made to comprehend them all. However, the distinctions between 

 these classes are sufficiently marked, and their encroachments upon 

 each other are so rare, that it will be sufficient particularly to apprize 

 the reader when they happen to be blended. 



There are many quadrupeds that we are well acquainted with ; and 

 of those we do not know, we shall form the most clear and distinct 

 conceptions, by being told wherein they differ, and wherein they re- 

 semble those with which we are familiar. Each class of quadrupeds 

 may be ranged under some one of the domestic kinds, that may serve 

 for the model by which we are to form some kind of idea of the rest. 

 Thus we may say that a tiger is of the cat kind, a wolf of the dog 

 kind, because there are some rude resemblances between each ; and 

 a person who has never seen the wild animals, will have some incom- 

 plete knowledge of their figure from the tame ones. On the contrary, 

 I will not, as some systematic writers have done,* say that the bat is 

 of the human kind, or a hog of the horse kind, merely because there 

 is some resemblance in their teeth, or their paps. For although this 

 resemblance may be striking enough, yet a person who has never seen 

 a bat or a hog, will never form any just conception of either, by be- 

 ing told of this minute similitude. In short, the method in classing 

 quadrupeds should be taken from their most striking resemblances 

 and where these do not offer, we should not force the similitude, but 

 leave the animal to be described as a solitary species. The number 

 of quadrupeds is so few, that indeed, without any method whatever, 

 there is no great danger of confusion. 



All quadrupeds, the number of which, according to Buffbn, amounts 

 to but two hundred, may be classed in the following manner. 



First, those of the Horse kind. This class contains the Horse, the 

 Ass, and the Zebra. Of these none have horns, and their hoof is of 

 one solid piece. 



The second class are those of the Cow kind ; comprehending tne 

 Urus, the Buffalo, the Bison, and the Bonassus. These have cloven 

 hoofs, and chew the cud. 



The third class is that of the Sheep kind : with cloven hoofs, arid 

 chewing the cud, like the former. In this is comprehended the Sheep, 

 the Goat, the Lama, the Vigogne, the Gazelle, the Guinea D^er, and 

 all of a similar form. 



The fourth class is that of the Deer kind, with cloven hoofs, ami 

 with solid horns, that are shed every year. This class contains trie 

 Elk, the Rein-deer, the Stag, the Buck, the Roebuck, and the Axis. 



The fifth class comprehends all those of the Hog kind, the Peccari 

 and the Babyrouessa. 



* Lnmaei Syst. 



