ANTMAI.S- 457 



tlse most ravenous iniimier ; and then retire to their dens, cor~ 

 tinning inactive, till the calls of hunger again excite their cour- 

 age and industry. But as all their methods of pursuit are coun- 

 teracted by the arts of evasiou, they often continue to range 

 without success, supjiorting a state of famine for several days, 

 nay, sometimes, weeks together. Of their prey, some find pro- 

 tection in holes, in which nature has directed them to bury 

 themselves ; some find safety by swiftness ; and such as are 

 possessed of neither of these advantages, generally herd together, 

 and endeavour to repel invasion by united force. The very 

 sheep, which to us seem so defenceless, are by no means so in a 

 state of nature ; they are furnished with arms of defence, and a 

 very great degree of swiftness ; but they are still further assisted 

 by their spirit of mutual defence : the females fall into the 

 centre ; and the males, forming a ring round them, oppose their 

 horns to the assailants. Some animals, that feed upon fruits 

 which are to be found only at one time of the year, fill their 

 holes with several sorts of plants, which enable them to lie con- 

 cealed during the hard frosts of the winter, contented with their 

 prison, since it affords them plenty and protection. These holes 

 are dug with so much art, that there seems the design of an 

 architect in the formation. There are usually two apertures, by 

 one of which the little inhabitant can always escape, when the 

 enemy is in possession of the other. Many creatures are equally 

 careful of avoiding their enemies, by placing a sentinel to warn 

 them of the aj)proaeh of danger. These generally perform this duty 

 by turns ; and they know how to punish such as have neglected 

 their post, or have been unmindful of the common safety. Such 

 are a part of the eftbrts that the weaker races of quadnipeds exert 

 to avoid their invaders ; and, in general, they are attended with 

 success. The arts of instinct are most commonly found an over- 

 match for the invasions of instinct. Man is the only creature 

 against whom all their little tricks cannot prevail. Wherever he 

 has spread his dominions, scarcely any flight can save, or any 

 retreat harbour ; wherever he comes, terror seems to follow, and 

 all society ceases among the inferior tenants of the plain ; their 

 union against him can yield them no protection, and their cun- 

 ning is but weakness. In their fellow-brutes, they have an 

 enemy whom they can oi)pose with an equality of advantage; 

 they can oppose fraud or swiftness to force, or numbers to in- 



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