154 HISTORY OF 



classes they most approach, we should find it dif- 

 ficult, after the principal had taken their stations 

 near him, where to place many that lie at the out- 

 skirts of this phalanx. The bat makes a near ap- 

 proach to the aerial tribe, and might by some be 

 reckoned among the birds. The porcupine has 

 not less pretensions to that class, being covered 

 with quills, and showing that birds are not the 

 only part of nature that are furnished with such 

 a defence. The armadillo might be referred to 

 the tribe of insects, or snails, being, like them, 

 covered with a shell; the seal and the morse 

 might be ranked among the fishes, like them be- 

 ing furnished with fins, and almost constantly re- 

 siding in the same element. All these, the far- 

 ther they recede from the human figure, become 

 less perfect, and may be considered as the lowest 

 kinds of that class to which we have referred 

 them. 



But although the variety in quadrupeds is thus 

 great, they all seem w r ell adapted to the stations 

 in which they are placed. There is scarcely one 

 of them, how rudely shaped soever, that is not 

 formed to enjoy a state of happiness fitted to its 

 nature. All its deformities are only relative to 

 us, but all its enjoyments are peculiarly its own. 

 We may superficially suppose the sloth, that takes 

 up months in climbing a single tree, or the mole, 

 whose eyes are too small for distinct vision, are 

 wretched and helpless creatures ; but it is proba- 

 ble that their life, with respect to themselves, is 

 a life of luxury ; the most pleasing food is easily 

 obtained, and, as they are abridged in one plea- 



