152 THE PHILOSOPHY 



ftiells, or gravel. It is neceflary that they fhould always be nearly 

 in equilibrium with the water in which they live. To accomplifh 

 this purpofe, when their habitations are too heavy, they add a piece 

 of wood, when too light a bit of gravel *. 



I had a cat that frequented a clofet, the door of which was faf- 

 tened by a common iron latch. A window was fituated near the 

 door. When the door was ftiut, the cat gave herfelf no uneafmefs. 

 As foon as (he tired of her confinement, flie mounted on the fole of 

 the window, and with her paw dexteroufly lifted the latch and 

 came out. This pradice fhe continued for years. 



Thefe examples, I hope, are fufficient. 



III. 7'he third clafs comprehends all thofe Injl'm[ls ivhlcb are ivi- 

 proveable by experience and ohfervation. 



The fuperiority of man over the other animals feems to depend 

 chiefly on the great number of inftindts with which his mind is en- 

 dowed. Traces of every inftin£l he poflTefTes are difcoverable in the 

 brute creation. But no particular fpecies enjoys the whole. On 

 the contrary, moft animals are limited to a fmall number. This ap- 

 pears to be the reafon why the inftinds of brutes are ftronger, and 

 more fteady in their operation, than thofe of man. A being z.Q.\x- 

 ated by a great variety of motives muft neceflarily reafon, or, in 

 other words, hefitate in his choice. Its condudl:, therefore, muft 

 often waver ; and he will have the appearance of being inferior to 

 another creature who is ftimulated to adtion by a fmaller number of 

 motives. Man, accordingly, has been confidered as the moft vacil- 



lant 



* Bonnet, torn. 4. pag. 209. Reaumur, torn. 5. pag. 215. 



