OF NATURAL HISTORY. 463 



melodious and delightful. The vivacity, the extent of voice, 

 and the imitative powers of thefe beautiful creatures, have at 

 all times excited the attention and conciliated the aflciSlions 

 of mankind. When domefticated, thefe birds, befidc their 

 natural notes, foon acquire the faculty of linging conlidera- 

 ble parts of artificial tunes. Thefe imitations are effcvfts of 

 natural inftincH:. But, in exhibitions, I have feen linnets fim- 

 ulate death, and remain perfectly tranquil and unmoved, 

 when fmall cannons were fired, within an inch of their bo- 

 dies, from a wooden fort. Thefe little creatures have even 

 been taught to lay hold of a match and fire the cannons 

 themfelves. 



The docility and fagacity of animals have always been con- 

 fidered as wonderful. But this wonder is partly the effedt 

 of inattention ; for, though man is unqueftionably the chief 

 of the animal creation, the other animals, according to the 

 number of inftincls, or, which amounts to the fame thing, 

 according to the mental powers with which Nature has en- 

 dowed them, comparatively approach to or recede from the 

 fagacity and genius of the human fpecies. The whole is a 

 graduated fcale of intelligence. A philofopher fhould, there- 

 fore, contemplate and admire the whole, but fhould never be 

 furprifed at any partial exhibitions of the general fcene of in- 

 telledt and animation. 



"We fhall conclude this fubjeiSi: with a few remarks concern- 

 ing the changes produced in animals by domestication. 



Climate and food are the chief caufes which produce chang- 

 es in the magnitude, figure, colour, and conftitution, of wild 

 animals. But, befide thefe caufes, there are others which 

 have an influence upon animals when reduced to a domeftic 

 or unnatural ftate. When at perfect liberty, animals feem 

 to have fele^ted thofe particular zones or regions of the globe 

 which are moft confonant to the nature and conftitution of 

 each particular tribe. There they fpontaneoufly remain, and 



