

LONGEVITY OF ANIMALS. 121 



supposed that the length of animal life was in proportion 

 to its duration in utero, or the space it remained in the 

 parent from conception to birth, and the length of time 

 it required to obtain maturity. This notion m'.ght have 

 some support in reason and fact, occasionally, but in 

 many cases was incorrect, and in regard to birds had no 

 foundation. Herbivorous animals probably live longer 

 than carnivorous ones, vegetable food being most easily 

 obtainable irr all seasons in a regular and requisite sup- 

 ply ; whereas animals that subsist on flesh, or by the 

 capture of prey, are necessitated at one period to pine 

 without food, and at another are gorged with superfluity : 

 and when the bodily powers of rapacious creatures be- 

 come impaired, existence is difficult to support, and 

 gradually ceases ; but with herbivorous animals in the 

 same condition, supply is not equally precarious, or 

 wholly denied. Yet it is probable that few animals in 

 a perfectly wild state live to a natural extinction of life. 

 In a state of domestication, the small number of car- 

 nivorous creatures about us are sheltered and fed with 

 care, seldom are in want of proper food, and at times 

 are permitted to await a gradual decay, continuing as 

 long as nature permits ; and by such attentions many 

 have attained to a great age ; but this is rather an arti- 

 ficial than a natural existence. Our herbivorous ani- 

 mals, being kept mostly for profit, are seldom allowed 

 to remain beyond approaching age ; and when its ad- 

 vances trench upon our emoluments by diminishing the 

 supply of utility, we remove them. The uses of the 

 horse, though time may reduce them, are often protract- 

 ed ; and our gratitude for past services, or interest in 

 what remains, prompts us to support his life by prepared 

 food of easy digestion, or requiring little mastication, 

 and he certainly by such means attains to a longevity 

 probably beyond the contingencies of nature. I have 

 still a favorite pony for she has been a faithful and 

 able performer of all the duties required of her in my 

 service for upwards of two-and-twenty years and, 

 though now above five-and-twenty years of age, retains 

 all her powers perfectly, without any diminution or 

 symptom of decrepitude ; the fineness of limb, brij. 



