ANIMALS. " 453 



cavities and risings fitting those of the opposite, so as to tally exactly 

 Mhen the jaws are brought together. These inequalities better 

 serve ibr comnunuting the food ; but they become smooth with 

 age ; and, for this reason, old animals take a longer time to chew 

 their food than such as are in the vigour of life. 



Their legs are not better fitted than their teeth to their re- 

 spective wants or enjoyments. In some they are made for 

 strength only, and to support a vast unwieldy frame, without 

 much flexibility or beautiful proportion. Thus, the legs of 

 the elephant, the rhinoceros, and the sea-horse, resemble pillars : 

 were they made smaller, they would be unfit to support the 

 body ; were they endowed M'ith greater flexibility, or swiftness, 

 that would be needless, as they do not pursue other animals for 

 food ; and conscious of their own superior strength, there are 

 none thnt they deign to avoid. Deer, hares, and other creatures, 

 that are to find safety only in flight have their legs made en- 

 tirely for speed ; they are slender, and nervous. Were it not 

 for this advantage every carnivorous animal would soon make 

 them a prey, and their races would be entirely extinguished. 

 Eut, in the present state of nature, the means of safety are ra- 

 ther superior to those of offence ; and the pursuing animal must 

 owe success only to patience, perseverance, and industry. The 

 feet of some that live upon fish alone, are made for swimming. 

 The toes of these animals are joined together with membranes, 

 being web-footed like a goose or a duck, by which they swim 

 with great rapidity. Those animals that lead a life of hostility, 

 and live upon others, have their feet armed with shaip claws, 

 which some can sheathe, and unsheathe, at will. Those, on 

 the contrary, who lead peaceful lives, have generally hoofs, 

 which serve some as weapons of defence ; and which in all are 

 better fitted for traversing extensive tracts of rugged country, 

 than the claw-foot of their pursuers. 



The stomach is generally proportioned to the quality of the 

 smimal's food, or the ease with which it is obtained. In those 

 that live upon flesh, and such nourishing substances, it is small 

 and glandular, affording such juices as are best adapted to digest 

 'ts contents ; their intestines also are short, and without fatness. 

 On the contrary, such animals as feed entirely u])on vegetables, 

 have the stomach very large ; and those who chew the cud have no 

 leas than four stomachs, all which serve as so many laboratories. 



