OF NATURAL HISTORY. 49.5 



motives, would foon unfold the caufes of thofe of a more ex- 

 tenflve kind. 



Migration is generally fuppofed to be peculiar to the feath- 

 ered tribes. This is a limited idea, which has originated 

 from inattention to the oeconomy of Nature. Birds migrate 

 with a view to remedy the inconveniencies of their prefent 

 fituation, and to acquire a more commodious ftation with re- 

 gard to food, temperature, generation, and fhelter. From 

 fimilar motives, men, fometimes in amazing multitudes, have 

 migrated from north to fouth, difplaced the native inhabi- 

 tants, and fixed eftablifliments in more comfortable climates 

 than thofe which they had relinquiflied. Thefe, in their 

 turn, have fallen vidlims to frefh and barbarous emigrants. 

 Among the inhabitants of the more northern nations, as 

 Norway, Sweden, Scotland, &c. notwithftanding a "very (Irong 

 attachment to their native countries, there feems to be a na- 

 tural or inftinftive propenfity to migrate. Poverty, the rig- 

 our of climate, curiofity, ambition, the falfe reprefentations 

 of interefted individuals, the opprefHon of feudal barons, and 

 limilar circumftances, have of late given rife to great emigra- 

 tions of the human fpecies. But, it is worthy of remark, 

 that the emigrations from fouth to north, except from the 

 love of conqueft in ambitious nations, are fo rare, that the 

 inftindt feems hardly to exift in thofe more fortunate climates. 

 Curiofity is a general inflindlive principle, which operates 

 ftrongly in the youthful periods of life, and flimulates every 

 man to vifit places that are diftant from his ordinary refi- 

 dence. This innate defire is influenced by the relations of 

 travellers, and by many other incentives of a more interefted 

 kind. Without the principle of migration, mankind, it is 

 probable, would never have been fo univerlally diffused over 

 the furface of the earth. It is counterbalanced, however, 

 by attachment to thofe countries which gave us birth, a prin- 

 ciple ftill more powerful apd efTicient. Tove of our native 



