160 



THE PHILOSOPHY 



ftraw, fmail fliells, or gravel. It is necelTary that they fiiould 

 always be nearly in equilibrium with the water in which they 

 live. To accomplifli this purpofe, when their habitations are 

 too' heavy, they add a piece of wood, when too light a bit of 

 gravel.* 



I had a cat that frequented a clofet, the door of which was 

 faftcned by a common iron latch. A window was fituated 

 near the door. When the door was fhut the cat gave herlelf 

 no uneafmefs. As foon as (he tired of her confinement, fhe 

 mounted on the fole of the window, and with her paw dexter- 

 oufly lifted the latch and came out. This practice fhe contin- 

 ued for years. 



Thefe examples, I hope, are fufficient. 



III. The third clafs comprehends all tho/e Injlin&s 'which are 

 impro'veabk hy experience and ohfervatlon. 

 The fuperiority of man over the other animals feems to de- 

 pend chiefly on the great number of inftindts with which his 

 Hiiiid is endowed. Traces of every inftinft he poffefTes are dif- 

 covcrable in the brute creation. But no particular fpecies en- 

 joys the whole. On the contrary, moft animals are limited to 

 a fmall number. This appears to be the reafon why the in- 

 ftin<Sls of brutes are ftrongcr, and more fteady in their operation, 

 than thofe of man. A being adluated by a great variety of 

 motives rcuft neceffarjly reafon, or, in other words, hefitate in 

 his choice. Its condu£l, therefore, muft often waver ; and he 

 will have the appearance of being inferior to another creature 

 who is {limulated to adlion by a fmaller number of motives. 

 Man, accordingly, has been confidcred as the mod vaciUant 

 and inconfident of all animals. The remark is jull ; but, in- 

 dead of a ccnfurc, it is an encon?.ium on the fpecies. The ac- 

 tions of a dog, or a monkey, for the fame rcr.fon, are more vari- 

 ous, whimficil and uncerlain, than thofe of a fheep or a cow. 

 * Bonnet, torn. 4, page 209, Rcai^muf; ton). 5, pngc ^ij. 



