4^2 HISTORY OF 



seem well adapted to the stations in which they are placed. 

 There is scarcely one of them, how rudely shaped soever, that 

 i.s not formed to enjoy a state of happiness fitted to its nature. 

 A\l its deformities are only relative to us, but all its enjoyments 

 are peculiarly its own. We may superficially suppose the sloth, 

 that takes up months in climbing a single tree, or the rnole, 

 whose eyes are too small for distant vision, are wretched and 

 helpless creatures : but it is probable that their life, with res- 

 pect to themselves, is a life of luxury ; the most pleasing food 

 is easily obtained ; and as they are abridged in one pleasure, it 

 may be doubled in those which remain. Quadrupeds, and all the 

 lower kinds of animals, have, at worst, but the torments of im- 

 mediate evil to encounter, and this is but transient and acciden- 

 tal : man has two sources of calamity, that which he foresees, 

 as well as that which he feels ; so that if his reward were to be 

 in this life alone, then, indeed, would he be of all beings the 

 most wretched. 



The heads of quadrupeds, though differing from each other, 

 are, in general, adapted to their way of living. In some it is 

 sharp, the better to fit the animal for turning up the earth in 

 which its food lies. In some it is long, in order to give a greater 

 room for the olfactory nerves, as in dogs, who are to lumt and 

 find out their prey by the scent. In others, it is short and thick, 

 as in the lion, to increase the strength of the jaw, and to fit it 

 the better for combat. In quadrupeds that teed upon grass, 

 they are enabled to hold down their heads to the ground, 

 by a strong tendinous ligament, that runs from the head to the 

 middle of the back. This" serves to raise the head, although 

 it has been held to the ground for several hours, without any la- 

 Dour or any assistance from the muscles of the neck. 



The teeth of all animals are entirely fitted to the nature ot 

 their food. Those of such as live upon flesh differ in every re- 

 spect from such as live upon vegetables. In the latter, they 

 se;'m entirely made for gathering and bruising their simple food, 

 being edged before, and fitted for cutting ; but broad towards 

 the back of the jaw, and fitted for pounding. In the cami- 

 vorous kinds, they are sharp before, and fitted rather for holding 

 /han dividing. In tiie one, the teeth serve as grindstones ; in 

 the other, as weapons of defence : in both, however, the sur- 

 tiice of those teeth which serve for grinding arc unequal : the 



