LECTURE VII 



ON THE M AMMLFEROUS ANIMALS. 



HAVING revised and considerably enlarged 

 upon the Lecture, which, upon a former occa- 

 sion, I had the honour of delivering to you on 

 the animals referred to in the class Mammalia; 

 and having, in my present paper, on the same 

 subject, introduced the history of animals not 

 before described ; it will afford me much satis- 

 faction, should the observations now lo be sub- 

 mitted, be the means of inviting your attention 

 to this branch of zoology. For though man in- 

 dubitably holds the most predominant rank in 

 the creation, and therefore his history has pre- 

 viously been treated ; yet, the mammiferous ani- 

 mals approach so near to him in their structure, 

 and in many of their qualities, are so often inter- 

 woven with his wants and his occupations, and 

 generally take so conspicuous a part in nature, 

 that they irresistably awaken in us a desire to 

 become better acquainted with their laws, with 



