220 T H E P H I L O S O P H Y 



vens, difcover car: ion at diftances, which, if we were to judge from 

 our own I'enfe of Imelling, would appear to be altogether incredible. 

 Others, as eagles, hawks, gulls, &c. furprife us no lels by the acute- 

 nefs of their fight. They perceive, from great heights in the air, 

 mice, fuiail birds, and minute fiflies in the water. 



One great caufe of the diffufion of animals over every part of the 

 globe, is to be derived from the diverfity of appetites for particular 

 fpecies of food, implanted by Nature in the different tribes. Some 

 fifties are only to be found in certain latitudes. Some animals inha- 

 bit the frigid, others the torrid zones ; fome frequent deferts, moun- 

 tains, woods, lakes, and meadows. In their choice of fituation, they 

 are uniformly determined to occupy fuch places as furnifli them 

 with food accommodated to their natures. Monkies, the elephant, 

 and rhinoceros, fix on the torrid zone, becaufe they feed on vege- 

 tables which fiourifli there during the whole year. The rein-deer 

 inhabit the cold regions of the north, becaufe thefe countries pro- 

 duce the greateft quantity of the lichen, a fpecies of mofs, which is 

 their beloved food. The pelican makes choice of dry and defert 

 places to lay her eggs. When her young are hatched, ftie is obli- 

 ged to bring water to them from great diftances. To enable her to 

 perform this necefiary ofiice. Nature has provided her with a large 

 fac, which extends from the tip of the under mandible of her bill to 

 the throat, and holds as much water as will fupply her brood for 

 feveral days. This water ftie pours into the neft to cool her young, 

 to allay their thirft, and to teach them to fwim. Lions, tigers, and 

 ether rapacious animals, refort to thefe nefts, drink the water, and 

 are faid not to injure the young *. The goat afcends the rocky 

 precipice, to crop the leaves of fhrubs, and other favourite plants. 

 The floth and the fqulrrel feed upon the leaves and the fruit of 



trees, 



• Amoen. Acad. vol. 2. p. 41. 



i 



