OF NATURAI, HISTORY. 6S 



man, if properly compofed, might enable them to acquire 

 more diftincft ideas of the many fecming deviations from the 

 common plan obferved by Nature in the formation of the in- 

 ferior and more imperfe6t animals. 



OF THE STRUCTURE OF QUADRUPEDS. 



Having delineated the ftru(5lure and organs of the human 

 fpecies, it is worthy of remark, that the intelledt, or fagacity, 

 of inferior animals augments or diminifhes in proportion as 

 the formation of their bodies approaches to, or recedes from, 

 that of man. Quadrupeds, accordingly, are more intelligent 

 than birds ; the fagacity of birds exceeds that of fifhes j and 

 the dexterity and cunning of iilhes are fuperior to thofc of 

 moft of the infecl tribes. Tlie fame gradation of mental pow- 

 ers is exhibited in different fpecies of the fame clafles of ani- 

 mals. The form of the ourang outang makes the neareft 

 approach to the human ; and the arts he employs for his de- 

 fence, the acSlions he performs, and the fagacity he difcovers, 

 are fo aftonifhing, that fome philofophers have confidered 

 him as a real human beinjy in the moft debafed ftao-e of fo- 



t> to 



ciety. Next to the ourang outang, the organs of the differ- 

 ent fpecies of apes and monkeys have the greateft refem- 

 blance to thofe of man ; and their powers of imitation, their 

 addrefs in procuring their food, and in managing their 

 young, their ingenuity, and their fagacious manners, have 

 contributed to the amufement, and excited the admiration of 

 mankind In all ages and nations. The fame relation be- 

 tween form and intellefl may be traced in the dog, the cat, 

 the fow, the horfe, the flieep, and the other fpecies of 

 quadrupeds. 



With regard to the general fl:ru(5lure and figure of quad- 

 rupeds, a great variety is exhibited in the different kinds. 

 But when examined in detail, it is apparent, that they, as 

 well as man, are all formed upon one primitive and general 



