190 NATURAL THEOLOGY. 



Thus, the body of the sloth has often been reproached for the 

 slowness of its motions, which has been attributed to an im- 

 perfection in the formation of its limbs. But it ought to be 

 observed, that it is this slowness wliich alone suspends the 

 voracity of the animal. He fasts during his migration ftom 

 one tree to another ; and this fast may be necessary for the 

 relief of his overcharged vessels, as well as to allow time for 

 the concoction of the mass of coarse and hard food which 

 he has taken into his stomach. The tardiness of his pace 

 seems to have reference to the capacity of his organs, and to 

 his propensities with respect to food ; that is. is calculated 

 to counteract the effects of repletion. 



Or there may be cases in ^vhich a defect is artificial, and 

 compensated by the very cause which produces it. Thus 

 the sheep, in the domesticated state in w^hich we see it, is 

 destitute of the ordinary raieans of defence or escape — is in- 

 capable either of resistance or flight. But this is not so 

 with the wild animal. The natural sheep is swift and 

 active ; and if it lose these qualities Avhen it comes under 

 the subjection of man, the loss is compensated by his protec- 

 tion. Perhaps there is no species of quadruped whatevei 

 which suffers so little as this does from the depredation ol 

 animals of prey. 



For the sake of making our meaning better understood, 

 we have considered this business of compensation under cer- 

 tain 'particularities of constitution in which it appears to 

 be most conspicuous. This view of the subject! necessarily 

 limits the instances to single species of animals. But there 

 are compensations, perhaps not less certain, which extend 

 over large classes and to large portions of living nature. 



I. In quadrupeds, the deficiency of teeth is usually com- 

 pensated by the faculty of rumination. The sheep, deer, 

 and ox tribe are wdthout fore-teeth in the upper jaw. These 

 ruminate. The horse and ass are furnished with teeth in 

 the upper jaw, and do not ruminate. In the former class, 

 the grass and hay descend uito the stomach nearly in the 



