NATURAL HISTORY. 7 



cessity extend his dominion over a larger space 

 of territory, and thus enlarge his knowledge of 

 those animals, vegetables, and minerals, which 

 the countries newly occupied presented to his 

 observation. Encouraged by such discoveries, 

 and his wants increasing with the means of gra- 

 tifying them, he would not long be satisfied with 

 the supplies which the surrounding country af- 

 forded him. He would soon discover that the 

 sea opened to him great varieties of food, to 

 which in his earlier and more simple state of 

 existence he had been an utter stranger ; and 

 which, by a little ingenuity and increasing con- 

 fidence, afforded him an opportunity of visiting 

 countries previously out of the reach of his 

 ordinary contemplation. 



The earth, from the surface of which he at first 

 only obtained his supplies, it was ascertained by 

 gradual penetration, contained within its bowels 

 a great variety of substances which, as mankind 

 approached towards civilization, was converted 

 to the most useful purposes ; and the subsequent 

 barter of one article for another (the basis of 

 modern commerce,) gave an additional impulse 

 to the desire of discovery, and by increasing 

 human knowledge, led at a very early period to 

 a general acquaintance with natural history in 

 its more ordinary acceptation. 



But it was not until mankind had considerably 

 advanced in civilization, and had recorded a vast 



B 4 



