272 THE PHILOSOPHY 



try, perfe(^ly accommodated to the new fentlments which 

 Nature, for wile purpofes, excites in their minds. In th^ 

 deer kind, the horns of the males appear not till they are 

 fit for multiplying the fpecies. At this period, the creft, 

 the wattles, and the plumage of the male gallinaceous birds 

 acquire additional beauty, and their courage and ftrength 

 are greatly augmented. The pigeon, inftead of being queru- 

 lous, timid, and voracious, whenever the age of puberty ar- 

 rives, feels emotions of a very different kind, Confcious of 

 the new vigour he has acquired, he affumes a bold and im- 

 portant air. He ftruts about with a majeftic pride, and im- 

 mediately addrefles, with all the gaity of a lover, fome fav- 

 orite female, whom he folicits with the moft affiduous gal- 

 lantry and attention. After the coy female gives her afTent, 

 their after conduct exhibits fuch a mutual and ardent affec- 

 tion, and fuch a conftant fidelity, as afford no inconfiderable 

 pattern to the human fpecies. 



With regard to fifhes, we are totally ignorant of the pe- 

 riods when the different tribes of them acquire the power of 

 multiplying. From the element they inhabit, from the ra- 

 pidity of their motions, and from their defultory and wander- 

 ing mode of living, we are equally ignorant of many other 

 important parts of their oeconomy and manners. This con- 

 tinues to be an ample field for future inveftigation, and high- 

 ly worthy of the attention of naturalifls. 



The oeconomy and manners of infedls are more open to 

 infpeclion. Thofe of the winged tribes undergo many chang- 

 es, both in figure and fIruiSlure, before they arrive at the age 

 of puberty. They firfl efcape from the eggs in the form of 

 minute caterpillars. In this ftate they are exceedingly vora- 

 cious, and grow with rapidity to their full fize ; but they 

 are deftitute both of the power and of the organs neceifary 

 for the multiplication of the fpecies. They are next form- 

 ed into chryfalids : In this flate, their bodies are covered 



