7^ THE PHILOSOPHY 



more obvious and difageeable, becaufe they are modelled on a large 

 fcale, and moft of them are peculiar to the elephant. 



From this fingular conformation, the animal is fubjedled to many 

 inconveniencies. He moves his head with difficulty, and cannot 

 turn back without making a large circuit. For this reafon, the hun- 

 ters attack him behind, or on the flanks, and avoid the efFed:s of 

 his rage by circular movements. He cannot feize any object on the 

 ground with his mouth, becaufe his r.;ck is too ftiif to allow his 

 head to reach the earth. He is therefore obliged to lay hold of his 

 food, and even of his drink, with his nofe, and then convey them 

 to his mouth. It is likewife a confequence of this ftrudute, that 

 the young elephants are faid to fuck with their nofe, and afterwards 

 pour the milk into their gullet. 



OF THE STRUCTURE OF BIRDS. 



From the figure and movements of the feathered tribes, we fliould 

 be led to imagine that the ftrudture of their organs was extremely 

 different from that of quadrupeds. Their oeconomy and manner of 

 living required fome variations in their frame. But thofe variations 

 are by no means fo many or fo great as might be expeded. Inftead 

 of hairs, their bodies are covered with feathers, which, befide the 

 beautiful variety of their colours, protect this clafs of animals from 

 the affaults of rain and cold. They have only a couple of legs; but 

 Nature has furnifhed them with two additional inftruments of mo- 

 tion, by which they are enabled to rife from the furface of the earth, 

 and to fly with amazing rapidity through the air. The wings are 

 articulated with the breaft-bone, and their motions are performed by 

 mufcles of remarkable ftrength. Many birds are continually paffing 



through 



