84 THE PHILOSOPHY 



compofes the white of the egg. The uterus is a large bag^ 

 fituated at the end of the infundibulum, and is full of wrink- 

 les on the infide. Here the egg receives its laft covering, 

 or fhell, and is pufhed out of the vagina at an aperture pla- 

 ced immediately above the anus. 



From this defcription of the ftruflure of granivorous birds, 

 the analogy between them and the herbivorous quadrupeds 

 is confpicuous. In both, the number of their ftomachs, the 

 length and capacity of their inteftines, and the quality of 

 their food, are very fimilar. But this analogy is not confin- 

 ed to ftrudlure and organs : It extends to manners and dif- 

 politions. Like the herbivorous quadrupeds, this order of 

 birds are diftinguifhed by the gentlenefs and complacency 

 of their tempers. Contented with the feeds of plants, or 

 fmall infe£ls, the ftronger never wage war with the weaker. 

 Their chief attention is occupied in procuring food, in hatch- 

 ing and rearing their young ; and their vigilance is kept 

 perpetually active in eluding the fnares of men and other 

 rapacious animals. The whole are a timid race, and many 

 of them are fo tractable that they may eafily be rendered 

 domeftic. Man, accordingly, ever attentive to his intereft, 

 has not failed to derive advantage from the innocence and 

 ftupidity of thefe animals. Of the gallinaceous and duck 

 kind, which are the moft prolific, and confequently the moft 

 profitable, he has chiefly feledled the lien, the goofe, the 

 duck, the turkey, and the peacock. In this feledlion he has 

 difcovered his fagacity j for, infl:ead of pairing, thefe birds 

 are polygamous, one male being fufiicient to fertilize a num- 

 ber of females, which is a great faving in the article of food. 



With regard to carnivorous birds, their general confor- 

 mation is nearly the fame with thofe of the granivorous 

 kind. They have the fame number of ftomachs j but all of 

 them are fmaller and weaker. Their intefi:ines are alfo 

 much fhorter. To enable them to procure food, they are 



