130 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 



former quarters ; and that this instinct should be 

 productive of so much good to mankind, and, at 

 the same time, be necessary, under its present 

 circumstances, for the preservation or propaga- 

 tion of the species of these several animals. 



There is another view that may be taken of 

 this subject, equally shewing the attention of the 

 Almighty Father to the wants of every descrip- 

 tion of his creatures. The migrating tribes of 

 almost every kind are attended by numerous 

 bands of predaceous animals, which, as well as 

 man, partake in the general harvest ; the bears, 

 wolves, foxes, dogs, and, in tropical countries, 

 other beasts of prey, hang on the flanks of the 

 bands of emigrators, and capture and devour the 

 stragglers. The vultures, and other carnivorous 

 birds, follow and share in the spoil : and the emi- 

 grating fishes are attended by whole tribes of 

 predaceous birds and fishes, which thin their 

 numbers before they are taken by the nets of the 

 fisherman. 



I am next to say something on the local distri- 

 bution of animals. By their local distribution, I 

 mean their station in any given country. Under 

 this head they may be divided into terrestrial, 

 amphibious, and aquatic. 



The local distribution of terrestrial animals is 



