ANIMALS. 171 



goat, imported from Europe to South America, 

 soon begins to degenerate ; but as it grows less it 

 becomes more prolific, and instead of one kid at 

 a time, or two at the most, it generally produces 

 five, and sometimes more. What there is in the 

 food, or the climate, that produces this change, 

 we have not been able to learn ; we might be apt 

 to ascribe it to the heat, but that on the African 

 coast, where it is still hotter, this rule does not 

 obtain ; for the goat, instead of degenerating 

 there, seems rather to improve. 



However, the rule is general among all quad- 

 rupeds, that those which are large and formidable 

 produce but few at a time ; while such as are 

 mean and contemptible are extremely prolific. 

 The lion or tiger have seldom above two cubs at 

 a litter ; while the cat, that is of a similar nature, 

 is usually seen to have five or six. In this man- 

 ner, the lower tribes become extremely numer- 

 ous ; and, but for this surprising fecundity, from 

 their natural weakness, they would quickly be 

 extirpated. The breed of mice, for instance, 

 would have long since been blotted from the 

 earth, were the mouse as slow in production as 

 the elephant. But it has been wisely provided, 

 that such animals as can make but little resist- 

 ance, should at least have a means of repairing 

 the destruction which they must often suffer, by 

 their quick reproduction ; that they should in- 

 crease even among enemies, and multiply under 

 the hand of the destroyer. On the other hand, it 

 has as wisely been ordered by Providence, that 

 the larger kinds should produce but slowly ; 



