5t 



the eize of a red deer. The weasel is larger in Ameri- 

 ca than in Europe, as may be seen by comparing its 

 dimensions as reported by Mons. D'ALd)enton^ and 

 Kalm. The latter tells us,f that the lynx, badger, red 

 fox, and flying squirrel, are the same in America as in 

 Europe: by which expression 1 understand, they are 

 the same in all material circun^istances, in size as well 

 as others : for if they were smaller they would differ 

 frou) the European. Our gray fox is, by Catesby's ac- 

 count,]: little different in size and shape from tlie Ku- 

 ropean fox. 1 presume he means the red fox of Eu- 

 rope, as does Kalm, where he says,§ that in size ' they 

 do not quite come up to our foxes.' For proceeding 

 next to the red fox of America, lie says 'they are en- 

 tirely the same with the European sort ;' which shows 

 he had in view one European sort only, which was the 

 red. So that the result of their testimony is, that the 

 American gray fox is somewhat less than the Euro()ean 

 red ; which is equally true of the gray fox of Euro[)e, 

 as may be seen by comparitig the measures of the Count 

 de BufTon and Mons. D'Aubenton.(| The white bear 

 of America is as large as that of Europe. The bones 

 of the mammoth which have been found in America, are 

 as large as those found in the old world. It may be 

 asked, why I insert the mammoth, as if it still existed? 

 I ask in return, why I should omit it, as if it did not 

 exist .^ Such is the economy of nature, that no in- 

 stance can be produced, of her having permitted any 

 one race of her animals to become extinct; of her hav- 

 ing formed any link in her great work so weak as to be 

 broken. To add to this, the traditionary testimony of 

 the Indians, that this animal still exists in the northern 

 and western parts of America, would be adding the 

 light of a taper to that of the meridian sun. Those 

 parts still remain in their aboriginal state, imexplored, 

 and undisturbed by us, or by others for us. He iriay 

 as well exist there now, as he did formerly where we 

 find his bones. If he be a carnivorous animal, as some 



*XV.42. t I. 359. T. 48.221.251. II. 52. J II. 78. M.220. 

 IJ XXVII. 63. XI V. 1 19. Harris, II. 387. Biiffon. Quad. IX. 1 . 



