GENERATION. SECT. XXXIZ- 4. 



hunger, and fecurity. A great want of one part 

 of the animal world has confifted in the defire of 

 the exclufive pofleflion of the females ; and thefe 

 have acquired weapons to combat each other for 

 this purpofe, as the very thick, fhield-like, horny 

 fkin on the fhoulder of the boar is a defence only 

 againft animals of his own fpecies, who ftrike ob- 

 liquely upwards, nor are his tufhes for other pur- 

 pofes, except to defend himfelf, as he is not natu- 

 rally a carnivorous animal. So the horns of the 

 Hag are fharp to offend his adverfary,but are branch- 

 ed for the purpofe of parrying or receiving the 

 thrufts of horns fimilar to his own, and have there- 

 fore been formed for the purpofe of combating other 

 flags for the exclufive pofleffion of the females; who 

 are obferved, like the ladies in the times of chi- 

 valry, to attend the car of the victor. 



The birds, which do not carry food to their 

 young, and do not therefore marry, are armed with 

 fpurs for the purpofe of fighting for4:he exclufive 

 pofleflion of the females, as cocks and quails. It 

 is certain that thefe weapons are not provided for 

 their defence againft other adverfaries, becaufe the 

 females of thefe fpecies are without this armour. 

 The final caufe of this conteft amongft the males 

 feems to be, that the ftrongeft and moft active ani- 

 mal fhould propagate the fpecies, which fhould 

 thence become improved. 



Another great want confifts in the means of pro- 

 curing food, which has diverfified the forms of all 

 fpecies of animals. Thus the nofe of the fwine has 

 become hard, for the purpofe of turning up the 

 foil in fcarch of infects and of roots. The trunk 

 of the elephant is an elongation of the nofe for 

 the purpofe of pulling down the branches of trees 

 for his food, and for taking up wateV without bend- 

 ing his knees. Beafts of prey have acquired ftrong 

 jaws or talons. Cattle have acquired a rough tongue 



and 



