39§ THE PHILOSOPHY 



birds, an aiTtlve, a vigilant, and a voracious race. Hares, rab- 

 bits, mice, rats, are expofed to the depredations of carnivo- 

 rous quadrupeds and birds. The larger cattle, as the ox, 

 the deer, the fheep, &c. are not exempted from enemies : 

 And man, by the fuperiority of his mental powers, checks 

 the multiplication of the carnivorous tribes, and maintains 

 the balance and empire of the animal fyftem. Thofe fpecies 

 which are endowed with uncommon fertility have the great- 

 eft number of enemies. The caterpillar, the puceron, and 

 infecls in general, one of the moft prolific tribes of animals, 

 ftre attacked and devoured by numerous hoftile bands. No 

 fpecies, however, is ever exhaufted. The balance between 

 gain and lofs is perpetually preferved. The earth, the feas, 

 the atmofphere, may be conlidered as an immenfe and varie- 

 gated pafture. In this view, it is moft judicioufly cultivated 

 and ftocked by the numerous animated beings which it is 

 deftined to fupport. Every animal and every vegetable fur- 

 nifh fubfiftence to particular fpecies. Thus, nothing of value 

 is loft ; and every fpecies is abundantly fupplied with food. 



That the general balance of animation is conftantly preferv- 

 ed, we learn from daily experience. The reader, however, 

 I prefume, v/ill not be difpleafed to have fome examples of 

 the modes employed by Nature to accomplifli this effedl fug- 

 gefted to him. 



After an inundation of the Nile, the lower parts of Egypt 

 are greatly infefted with ferpents, frogs, mice, and other ver- 

 min. At that period, the ftorks refort thither in immenfe 

 multitudes, and devour the ferpents, frogs, and mice, which, 

 without this dreadful carnage, would be highly noxious to 

 the inhabitants. Belon, a moft ingenious and faithful French 

 naturallft, remarks, that, in many places, the land could not 

 be inhabited, if the ftorks did not deftroy the amazing num- 

 bers of mice which frequently appear inPaleftine, and other 

 parts of the Eaft bordering upon Egypt. The Egyptian vul- 



