76 VERTEBRATA. MAMMALIA. 



feel dissatisfied and puzzled, as if it were incumbent 

 on a Christian philosopher to "justify the ways of 

 God," on this single assumed principle. What was the 

 ultimate object of Infinite Love and Wisdom in the 

 creation of the inferior animals, our utter ignorance 

 of their destiny prevents us from discerning ; but it 

 appears no less consistent with philosophy than with 

 religion, to believe that at least one object was, the 

 diffusion of enjoyment and consequent happiness, on 

 as large a scale as possible. And this design we 

 may be sure is fulfilled. 



The geographical distribution of the Cats is very 

 extensive, as they are spread over most parts of the 

 world, except Australasia. They, however, most 

 abound in the teeming forests of tropical America, 

 and the hot jungles of insular and continental India. 

 The Lion, (F. Leo,) is placed, not without reason, at 

 the head of the typical genus of the Carnivora. In 

 size, power, boldness, and capacity of destruction, he 

 is unrivalled, while he is equally distinguished by 

 his noble front, and by his majestic port and bearing. 

 The high eulogiums often passed upon his forbear- 

 ance and generosity, have little foundation in fact. It 

 is true that his appetite appears somewhat less san- 

 guinary than that of some other of the Cats ; that 

 he delights more in the flesh than in the blood of his 

 prey, and therefore is satisfied with less of slaughter ; 

 but the instances occasionally recorded of his re- 

 fraining from attacking man, have been probably 

 owing to sated appetite ; the forbearance, not of 

 clemency, but of indifference and sloth. 



