BOOK OF NATURE LAID OPEN. 53 



springs and waters to which they must necessarily 

 come to quench their thirst. The Bear, in autumn, 

 betakes himself to his winter quarters, nor ventures 

 abroad till spring has again renewed the face of the 

 earth. The Chamois Goat, when closely pursued in 

 his mountainous retreat, will suddenly rebound on 

 the huntsman, and precipitate him over the rock. 

 The Hedge-hog in winter wraps himself up in his 

 mossy seat. The Porcupine when almost overtaken 

 in the pursuit, on a sudden rolls himself up, and 

 presents to his antagonist, instead of a delicious 

 morsel, a ball of prickles : and the Armadillo, ac- 

 tuated by the same unerring impulse, joins his ex- 

 tremities beneath his shelly covering, and rolls over 

 the precipice unhurt, to the confusion of his ene- 

 my. But this is not all ; Horses in a state of na- 

 ture are not only said to keep a centinel on the look- 

 out, but, when attacked, join heads together and 

 fight with their heels. Oxen in a similar state join 

 tails together, and fight with their horns. Swine 

 get together in impenetrable herds to resist an at- 

 tack, and what is observable in all, they place the 

 young in the middle, and keep them safe in the day 

 of battle ! 



These are some of the wonders of instinct ; and 

 can we behold them without admiration ! 



The Uses of Quadrupeds 



Are so various, that we must content ourselves 

 with only naming a few of them. Of what great 



