QUADRUPEDS OF THE NEW WORLD. 
not deny that North America produces the true vine*; but it is found in far 
Jower latitudes than our adventurers could reach in the time employed in their 
voyage, which was comprehended in a very fmall fpace. I have no doubt of the 
difcovery; but, as the land was never colonized, nor any advantages made of 
it, it may be fairly conjectured, that they reached no farther than the barren country 
of Labrador. 
The continent which ftocked America with the human race, poured in the 
brute creation through the fame paflage. Very few quadrupeds continued in the 
peninfula of Kamt/ehatka. I can enumerate only twenty-five which are inhabitants 
of land; for I muft omit the marine animals, which had at all times power of 
changing their fituation : all the reft perfifted in their migration, and fixed their refi- 
dence in the New World. Seventeen of the Kamt/chatkan quadrupeds are found 
in America : others are common only to Sibiria or Tartary, having, for unknown 
caufes, entirely evacuated Kamtfchatka, and divided themfelves between America 
and the parts of A/a above cited. Muititudes again have deferted the Old World, 
even to an individual, and fixed their feats at diftances moft remote from the fpot 
from which they took their departure; from mount 4rarat, the refting-place of 
the ark, in a central part of the Old World, and excellently adapted for the 
difperfion of the animal creation to all its parts. We need not be ftartled at 
the vaft journies many of the quadrupeds took to arriye at their prefent feats : 
Might not numbers of fpecies have found a convenient abode in the vaft 
Alps of Afia, inftead of wandering to the Cordilleras of Chili? or might not 
others have been contented with the boundlefs plains of Zartary, inftead of tra- 
velling thoufands of miles, to the extenfive flats of Pampas ?—To endeavour to 
elucidate common difficulties is certainly a trouble worthy of the philofopher and 
of the divine ; not to attempt it would be a criminal indolence, a negle& to 
Vindicate the ways of God to man. 
But there are multitudes of points beyond the human ability to explain, and yet 
are truths undeniable: the facts are indifputable, notwithftanding the caufes 
are concealed. In fuch cafes, faith muft be called in to our relief. It would 
certainly be the height of folly to deny to that Being who broke open the great 
fountains of the deep to effect the deluge—and afterwards, to compel the difperfion 
of mankind to people the globe, directed the confufion of languages—powers in- 
ferior in their nature to thefe. After thefe wondrous proofs of Omnipotency, 
* Glover's Account of Virginia, Phil. Tranf. Abr. ili, 570. 
y it 
CLXV 
