52 BOOK OP NATURE LAID OPEN. 



with him, giving his hand to shew the company to 

 the door who came to see him, and walk about as 

 gravely as if he formed one of the society. " All 

 these," he observes, " I have seen, without any other 

 instigation than the signs or command of his master, 

 and often of his own accord." He also mentions, 

 that his dep'ortment was grave, his movements re- 

 gular, and his disposition gentle, very different from 

 other apes. Francis Pryard relates, that in the 

 province of Sierra Leone there is a species so strong 

 limbed, and so industrious, that when properly 

 trained and fed, they work like servants. 



But to proceed ; what wonderful prudence, fore- 

 sight, and industry, does the republic of Beavers 

 display, as in a state of social compact, with an over- 

 seer at their head, each exerting his powers and con- 

 tributing his exertions fn raising the mole, and form- 

 ing with care the fortified settlement ! What sa- 

 gacity does the Elephant discover, as he discharges 

 the water from his mighty trunk, in order to cool 

 himself in the midst of the burning plains of Caf- 

 fraria ! 



Who knows not the affectionate tenderness of the 

 Dog, the mischievous cunning of the Monkey, the 

 inflexible perseverance of the Cat, in watching her 

 prey, and the subtle artifices of the Hare, in elud- 

 ing her pursuers ? 



The Lion, at whose tremendous roar creation flies, 

 as if knowing the terror which his fearless form in- 

 spires, has recourse to cunning, and watches his 

 prey in ambush, in the neighbourhood of those 



