ANIMALS. 169 



depending on its own strength, invades without 

 any assistant. 



The food also is another cause in the variety 

 which we find among quadrupeds of the same 

 kind. Thus the beasts which feed in the valley 

 are generally larger than those which glean a 

 scanty subsistence on the mountain. Such as live 

 in the warm climates, where the plants are much 

 larger and more succulent than with us, are 

 equally remarkable for their bulk. The ox fed 

 in the plains of Indostan is much larger than that 

 which is more hardily maintained on the side of 

 the Alps. The deserts of Africa, where the plants 

 are extremely nourishing, produce the largest and 

 fiercest animals ; and perhaps, for a contrary rea- 

 son, America is found not to produce such large 

 animals as are seen in the ancient continent. But 

 whatever be the reason, the fact is certain, that 

 while America exceeds us in the size of its rep- 

 tiles of all kinds, it is far inferior in its quadruped 

 productions. Thus, for instance, the largest ani- 

 mal of that country is the tapir, which can by no 

 means be compared to the elephant of Africa. 

 Its beasts of prey also are divested of that strength 

 and courage which is so dangerous in this part of 

 the world. The American lion, tiger, and leo- 

 pard, if such diminutive creatures deserve these 

 names, are neither so fierce nor so valiant as those 

 of Africa and Asia. The tiger of Bengal has 

 been seen to measure twelve feet in length, with- 

 out including the tail, whereas the American tiger 

 seldom exceeds three. This difference obtains 

 still more in the other animals of that country, 



