OF NATURAL HrSTORY. 469 



actions of animals. Some dogs, even of the fame race, are 

 furly, churlifh, and revengeful. Others are gay, frolick- 

 Ibmc, and friendly. The countenances of men, which al- 

 ways indicate fome part of their original and genuine charac- 

 ter, are as various as their numbers. Though lefs fubje6l to 

 Sfeneral obfervation. Nature has marked the countenances of 

 every animal, even down to the infecSt tribes, with fome 

 charafteriftic flrokes, which enable them to diftinguifh one 

 another, and even to contracSl particular attachments. To us, 

 the finall birds, fuch as fparrows and linnets, appear to be fo 

 perfe<?cly iimllar, that, though we had an opportunity of fee- 

 ing great numbers of them colle«Sl:ed in one place, it would 

 require much time and attention to be enabled to make indi- 

 vidual diftin£lions. After they have brought up their young, 

 they alTociate oromifcuoully in flocks ; but, when the genial 

 fpring arrives, a different fcene is exhibited. The flocks 

 difappear. Each male has fele^led, courted, and retired with 

 a female to build a neft, to hatch eggs, and to nourifh and 

 fupport their young. If Nature had not ftamped upon every 

 individual a peculiar mark, it would be impoffible that the 

 immenfe multitudes who pair, or join in matrimony, fhould 

 be capable of diftinguilhing and adhering faithfully to one 

 another. A fhepherd, who has been long accuftomed to fu- 

 perintend a numerous flock, knows, by the countenances, 

 and other natural or accidental marks, every individual. I 

 knew a fliepherd, who not only difl:inguifhed every individu- 

 al of above two hundred fheep, but gave to each a particu- 

 lar name. 



The characters of quadrupeds, and even of fome birds, are 

 indicated by obfcure refemblances between the lineaments of 

 their faces, and thofe of men of different features and difpo- 

 (itions. Some men, in the general expreflion of their coun- 

 tenances, refemble goats, others fheep, others oxen, others 

 fwine, others lionsj others dogs, others foxes, others owls, 



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