THE EARTH. 299 



a time, and to place all their attention upon that alone. On the 

 other hand, all the oviparous kinds produce in amazing plenty ; 

 and even the lower tribes of viviparous animals increase in a 

 seeming proportion to their minuteness and imperfection. Na- 

 ture seems lavish of life in the lower orders of the creation ; 

 and, as if she meant them entirely for the use of the nobler races, 

 she appears to have bestowed greater pains in multiplying the 

 number than in completing the kind. In this manner, while the 

 elephant and the horse bring forth but one at a time, the spider 

 and the beetle are seen to produce a thousand : and even among 

 the smaller quadrupeds, all the inferior kinds are extremely fer- 

 tile ; any one of these being found, in a very few months, to be- 

 come the parent of a numerous progeny. 



In this manner, therefore, the smallest animals multiply in the 

 greatest proportion ; and we have reason to thank Providence 

 that the most formidable animals are the least fruitful. Had 

 the lion and the tiger the same degree of fecundity with the 

 rabbit or the rat, all the arts of man would be unable to oppose 

 these fierce invaders ; and we should soon perceive them become 

 the tyrants of those who claim the lordship of the creation. 

 But Heaven, in this respect, has wisely consulted the advantage 

 of all. It has opposed to man only such enemies as he has art 

 and strength to conquer ; and as large animals require propor- 

 tional supplies, nature was unwilling to give new life, where it 

 in some measure, denied the necessary means of subsistence. 



In consequence of this pre-established order, the animals that 

 are endowed with the most perfect methods of generation, and 

 bring forth but one at a time, seldom begin to procreate till they 

 have almost acquired their full growth. On the other hand, 

 those which bring forth many, engender before they have arrived 

 at half their natural size. The horse and the bull come almost 

 to perfection before they begin to generate; the hog and the 

 rabbit scarcely leave the teat before they become parents them- 

 selves. In whatever light, therefore, we consider this subject, 

 we shall find that all creatures approach most to perfection, 

 whose generation most nearly resembles that of man. The 

 rep tile produced from cutting is but one degree above the vege- 

 table. The animal produced from one egg is a step higher in the 

 scale of existence ; that class of animals which are brought forth 

 alive, aie still more exalted. Of these, such as bring forth one 



