QUADRUPEDS COVERED 



most dignified tenants of the earth, are yet in 

 many respects related to the classes beneath them, 

 and do not in every respect preserve their usual 

 distinctions. Their first character, which consists 

 in having four feet, is common to the lizard kind 

 as well as to them. The second prerogative, 

 which is that of bringing forth living young, is 

 found in the cetaceous tribe of fishes, and also in 

 insects without number. Their third and last 

 attribute, which seems more general and constant 

 than the former, that of being covered with hair, 

 is yet found in various other animals, and is de- 

 ficient in quadrupeds themselves. Thus we must 

 be cautious of judging of the nature of animals 

 from one single character, which is always found 

 incomplete j for it often happens that three or 

 four of the most general characters will not suf- 

 fice. It must be by a general enumeration of 

 the parts, that we can determine precisely of the 

 works of the creation ; and instead of definitions, 

 learn to describe. Had this method been follow- 

 ed, much of the disgust and the intricacy of his- 

 tory might have been avoided, and that time 

 which is now employed in combating error, laid 

 out in the promoting of science. 



Were we to judge of nature from definitions 

 only, we should never be induced to suppose that 

 there existed races of viviparous quadrupeds des- 

 titute of hair, and furnished with scales and shells 

 in their stead. However, nature, every way va- 

 rious, supplies us with many instances of these 

 extraordinary creatures ; the old world has its 

 quadrupeds covered with scales, and the new 



