378 THE PHILOSOPHY 



CHAPTER XIV. 



Of the Hojlilities of Animals. 



IN contemplating the fyftem of animation exliib-. 

 ited in this planet, the only one of which we have any ex- 

 tenlive knowledge, the mind is ftruck, and even confound- 

 pd, with the general fcene of havock and devaftation which 

 is perpetually, and every where, prefented to our view. 

 There is not, perhaps, a lingle fpecies of animated beings, 

 whofe exiftence depends not, more or lefs, upon the death 

 ;ind deftru£tion of others. Every animal, when not prema- 

 turely deprived of life by thofe who are hoftile to it, or by 

 accident, enjoys a temporary exiftence, the duration of which 

 is longer or fhorter according to its nature, and the rank it 

 holds in the creation ; and this exiftence univerfally termi- 

 nates in death and diflblution. This is an eftablifhed law of 

 Nature, to which every animal is obliged to fubmit. But 

 this neceflary and univerfal deprivation of individual life, 

 though great, is nothing when compared to the havock occafi- 

 oned by another law, which impels animals to kill and devour 

 different fpecies, and fometimes their own. In the fyftem 

 of Nature, death and diftblution feem to be indifpenfible for 

 the fupport and continuation of animal life. 



But, though almoft every animal, in fome meafure, de- 

 pends for its exiftence on the deftrudlion of others, there are 

 fome fpecies in all the different tribes or clafles, which are 

 diftinguifhed by the appellation of carnivorous or rapacious^ 

 becaufe they live chiefly, or entirely, on animal food. In 

 the profecution of this fubje6l, therefore, we fliall in the^/j/? 

 place, mention fome examples of animal hoftility and rapac-^ 

 ity •, and, in the 7iext place, endeavour to point out fuch ad- 



