BENGAL TIGER, 103 



beautiful tiger-cat, at this time alive^ and in his pos- 

 session, at Fulham, which this accomphshed traveller 

 brought with him from Para. It is, therefore, obvious 

 that the distribution of these lesser feline animals is 

 proportioned by Nature to her distribution of birds ra- 

 ther than of quadrupeds. Nor is this theory alone ap- 

 plicable to the zoology of the New AVorld. If we turn 

 to the Asiatic regions, and contemplate the animals of 

 Java and Sumatra, — the islands which have been the best 

 explored, — we find the birds are much more numerous 

 in proportion than upon the continent ; while their na- 

 tural enemies, the tiger-cats, which seem almost ex- 

 cluded from the plains of Hindostan, are here found of 

 no less than four species. The same physical causes to 

 v/hich baron Humboldt has traced the pecuhar fertility 

 and the density of the forests in Tropical America, may 

 be traced in a less degree in these islands ; and we ac- 

 cordingly find that this similarity is discerned in their 

 leading zoological features. 



It may appear inconsistent with the beneficence of 

 a merciful God, that a numerous race of animals should 

 be created apparently for the sole purpose of carrying 

 destruction and death into so many innocent tribes of 

 the animal kingdom, and should pursue, with equal fe- 

 rocity, that being whom He has placed as lord over 

 the whole. Were this assumed violation of justice and 

 of mercy apparent only in this case, we might reason- 

 ably be allowed to doubt the goochiess of Providence. 

 But although the fact, in the present instance, comes be- 

 fore us in a more terrific shape, yet it is equally strong, 

 and equally apparent, in every part of creation. A mix- 

 ture of good and of evil is the condition of existence ; 

 and the same act which brought sin into the world, and 

 entailed upon man disquietude, disease, and sorrow, ter- 

 minating in an apparent death — that same act, as we 

 are told by Inspiration, brought with it disorder into 

 every part of creation, and rendered animals not less 

 ixee from pain, and suffering, and violence, than him 

 H 4 



