450 HISTORY or 



From being rivals, quadrupeds have now become the assist- 

 ants of man ; upon them he devolves the most laborious employ- 

 ments, and finds in them patient and humble coadjutors, ready 

 to obey, and content with the smallest retribution. It was not, 

 however, without long and repeated efforts that the independent 

 spirit of these animals was broken ; for the savage freedom, in 

 wild animals, is generally found to pass down through several 

 generations before it is totally subdued. Those cats and dogs 

 that are taken from a state of natural wildness in the forest, still 

 transmit their fierceness to their young ; and, however concealed 

 in general, it breaks out upon several occasions. Thus the as- 

 siduity and application of man in bringing them up, not only 

 alters their disposition, but their very forms ; and the difference 

 between animals in a state of nature and domestic tameness, is 

 so considerable, that Mr Buffon has taken this as a principal 

 distinction in classing them. 



In taking a cursory view of the form of quadrupeds, we may 

 easily perceive, that of all the ranks of animated nature, they 

 bear the nearest resemblance to man. This similitude will be 

 found more striking when, erecting themselves on their hinder 

 feet, they are taught to walk forward in an upright posture. 

 We then see that all their extremities in a manner correspond 

 with ours, and present us with a rude imitation of our own. In 

 some of the ape kind the resemblance is so striking, that anato- 

 mists are puzzled to find in what part of the human body man's 

 superiority consists ; and scarcely any but the metaphysician 

 can draw the line that divides them. 



But if we compare their intelTial structure with our own, the 

 likeness will be found still to increase, and we shall perceive 

 many advantages they enjoy in common with us, above the lower 

 , I ibes of nature. Like us, they are placed above the class of 

 birds, by bringing forth their young alive ; like us, they are 

 placed above the class of fishes, by breathing through the lungs ; 

 like us, they are placed above the class of insects, by having 

 red blood circulating through their veins ; and, lastly, like us, 

 they are different from almost all the other classes of ani- 

 mated nature, being either wholly or partly covered with hair. 

 Thus nearly are we represented, in point of conformation, 

 to the class of animals immediately below us ; and this shows 

 what little reason we have to be proud of our persons alone. 



