OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



^59 



rience foon teaches them what Is pleafant and what is painful, what 

 objed;s are hurtful and what falutary. A young cat, or a dog, who 

 has had no experience of leaping from a height, will, without hefi- 

 tation, precipitate itfelf from the top of a high wall. But, after 

 perceiving that certain heights are hurtful, and others inoffenfive, 

 the animal learns to make the diftindtion, and never afterwards can 

 be prevailed upon to leap from a height which it knows will be 

 produdtive of pain. 



Young animals examine every objedl they meet with. In this 

 inveftigation they employ all their organs. The firll periods of 

 their life are dedicated to ftudy. When they run about, and make 

 frolickfomc gambols, it is Nature fporting with them for their in- 

 ftrudion. In this manner they improve their faculties and organs, 

 and acquire an intimate knowledge of the objeds which furround 

 them. Men who, from peculiar circumftances, have been prevent- 

 ed from mingling with companions, and- engaging in the different 

 amufements and exercifes of youth, are always awkward in their 

 movements, cannot ufe their organs with eafe or dexterity, and of- 

 ten continue, during life, ignorant of the moll common objects. 



From the above fads and reafoning, it feems to be apparent, that 

 inflinds are original qualities of mind '; that every animal is pof- 

 fefled of fome of thefe qualities; that the intelligence and refources 

 of animals are proportioned to the number of inftinds with which 

 their minds are endowed ; that all animals are, in fome meafure, 

 rational beings;, and that the dignity and fuperiority of the human 

 intelled are neceflary refults, not of the conformation of our bodies, 

 but of the great variety of inftinds which Nature has been pleafed. 

 to confer on the fpecies, 



CHAR 



