bF kATURAL HISTORY. Sl^l 



CHAPTER Xni. 



Of the Habitations of Animals, 



jyiANY animals, as well as thofe of the humafi 

 fpeclesj are endowed by Nature with an archite(ftonic facuU 

 ty. This faculty is beftowed upon them for a number of 

 wife and ufeful purpofes. It enables them to conftru61: pro- 

 per habitations for concealing themfelves, for defending them 

 againft the attacks of their enemies, for ftieltering and cher- 

 i filing their young, and for protecting them from the injuries 

 pf the weather. 



All animals of the fame fpecies, when not reftralned by acci- 

 dental caufes, uniformly build in the fame ftyle, and ufe the 

 fame materials. From this general rule man is to be except- 

 ed. Poflefled of a fnperior number of inflin£ls, of which 

 the reafoning faculty is a refult*, he can build in any flyle, 

 and employ fuch materials as his tafte, his fancy, or the pur- 

 pofes for which the fabric is intended, ihall dire£l: him. A 

 cottage or a palace are equally within the reach of his pow-* 

 ers. In treating of this fubjedt, we mean not to trace the 

 progrefs of human architedlure, which, in the earlier flages 

 of fociety, is extremely rude, but to confine ourfelves to that 

 bf the inferior tribes of animated beings. 



With regard to quadrupeds, many of them employ no 



kind of architecture, but live continually, and bring forth 

 their young, in the open air. When not under the imme- 

 diate protection of man, thefe fpecies, in rough or ftormy 

 weather, fhelter themfelves among trees or bullies, retire un- 

 der the coverture of projecting rocks, or the fides of hills 

 oppofite to thofe from which the wind proceeds. Befide 

 thefe arts of defence, to which the creatures are prompted by 

 * See Ghap. V. Of loftindt. 



