54- BOOK OF NATURE LAID OPEN. 



utility for the purposes of agriculture, travelling, 

 industry, and commerce, is that docile and tractable 

 animal the Horse ! In what a variety of ways do 

 those of the Ox and Sheep kind administer to our 

 wants ! and. happily for the world, these creatures 

 are most extensively diffused, from the polar circle 

 to the equator. 



Goats, in many of the mountainous parts of Eu- 

 rope, constitute the wealth of the inhabitants : they 

 lie upon their skins, convert their milk into cheese 

 and butter, and feed upon their flesh. The Rein- 

 deer, to the inhabitants of the icy regions, supply 

 the place of the horse, the cow, the sheep, and the 

 goat. The Camel is to the Arabian what the Rein- 

 deer is to the Laplander. The flesh of the Elk is 

 palatable and nutritious, and of his skin the Indians 

 make snow-shoes and canoes. The Elephant, in 

 warm countries, is useful as a beast of burden, and 

 draws as much as six horses. 



What an unwearied pattern of unremitting exer- 

 Xion arid fidelity is that invaluable animal the shep- 

 herd's Dog ! What humane and excellent life pre- 

 servers, the Newfoundland species ! and what sa- 

 gacious guides and safe conductors are that useful 

 breed, trained in the Alpine solitudes, to carry pro- 

 visions to the bewildered traveller, and lead his steps 

 to the hospitable convent ! 



To what a number of depredators would our sub- 

 stance be exposed, were it not for that convenient 

 and agile, but often ill-fated domestic animal, the 

 Cat ; which, in consequence of an ill-founded pre- 



