INFLUENCE OF THE DEMAND FOR FOOD. 61 



manifested in all other parts of the creation. The 

 best theologians have been obliged to confess that 

 a difficulty does here exist,* and that the only 

 plausible solution which it admits of, is to con- 

 sider the pain and suffering thus created, as one of 

 the necessary consequences of those general laws 

 which secure, on the whole, the greatest and most 

 permanent good. There can be no doubt that the 

 scheme, by w^hich one animal is made directly con- 

 ducive to the subsistence of another, leads to the 

 extension of the benefits of existence to an infi- 

 nitely greater number of beings than could other- 

 wise have enjoyed them. This system, besides, is 

 the spring of motion and activity in every part of 

 nature. While the pursuit of its prey forms the 

 occupation, and constitutes the pleasure of a consi- 

 derable part of the animal creation, the employ- 

 ment of the means they possess of defence, of flight, 

 and of precaution is also the business of a still 

 larger part. These means are, in a great propor- 

 tion of instances, successful ; for wherever nature 

 has inspired sagacity in the perception of danger, 

 she has generally bestowed a proportionate degree 

 of ingenuity in devising the means of safety. Some 

 are taught to deceive the enemy, and to employ 

 stratagem where force or swiftness would have 

 been unavailing : many insects, when in danger, 

 counterfeit death to avoid destruction ; others, 

 among the myriapoda, fold themselves into the 

 smallest possible compass, so as to escape detec- 

 tion. The tortoise, as we have already seen, re- 

 treats within its shell, as within a fortress ; the 



* See, in particular, Paley's Natural Theology, chap. xxvi. 



