152 USEFULNESS OF ANIMALS TO MAN. 



(stomoxys calcitrans), that loves to bask on stones and 

 posts, and which is now biting my legs with the most 

 teasing perseverance. But this phlebotomist has not 

 the same attachment to our habitations, is a more soli- 

 tary insect, and does not unite in those little social 

 parties, that circle for hours in a sober uniformity of 

 flight below the ceilings of our chambers. Wherever 

 man appears, this house fly is generally to be seen too : 

 and instances are known, when islands have been 

 taken possession of very far removed from the main 

 land, that for a time no flies were visible, yet ere long 

 these little domestic insects have made their appearance ; 

 neither natives of the isle, nor can we reasonably sup- 

 pose them to have taken flight from a distant shore ; but 

 probably the offspring of parents that came with the 

 stores in the vessel of the party. 



We may have some few other instances of these ap- 

 parent dependences of animals on man ; yet, if we con- 

 sider the relative situations of both, we shall find them 

 existing, with very few exceptions, independent of him, 

 and that he is more indebted to them for their services, 

 than they are for his protection and support. Man 

 from the earliest periods began to subject the animal 

 world to his dominion, and avail himself of its properties 

 and powers to improve his own condition. As his wants 

 or propensities occurred, he compelled to his aid such 

 animals as he could subdue, or were adapted to his pur- 

 poses. The chief objects for which we require the aid 

 of animals are for food, clothing, vigilance, and strength. 

 Though the two former are highly essential to our com- 

 forts, they are not indispensable ; the vegetable world 

 supplies^ them in abundance to large portions of the in- 

 habitants of the globe, and the companionable qualities, 

 watchfulness, and swiftness of the dog might be dis- 

 pensed with. It is the strength of animals that makes 

 us sensible of our own weakness. By their power we 

 build our dwellings, effect an intercourse with distant 

 places, obtain much of our food, and the fuel of our 

 hearths : a state of civilization requires, as an indispen- 

 sable requisite, these things and others, rendering most 

 manifest our obligations to the animal world. Animals 



