i6^ THEPHILOSOPHY 



CHAPTER X. 



Of the Puberty of Animals'. 



TH E puberty of animals commences at that period of their 

 exiftence when Nature endows them with the power of mul- 

 tiplying the fpecies. This period is as various as the different tribes 

 of animals. In fome it arrives fooner, in others later ; but, in every 

 animal, it is accompanied with fome remarkable changes in confti- 

 tution and affedions. From infancy to puberty there is z gradual 

 increafe of fize ; but, immediately after that period, in both fexes, 

 the growth of the body makes a fudden fpring, and acquires re- 

 doubled ftrength and adtivity. The growth of animals, however, 

 does not always flop at the age of puberty. Men, quadrupeds, and 

 fifhes, continue to grow for fome time after their capacity of multi- 

 plying. But moft birds and infe£ts feem to acquire their full di- 

 menfions before they arrive at the age of puberty. 



Before puberty, the voice of a man, like that of a woman, is 

 fhrill and feeble. But, after that period, it becomes rough and ftrong. 

 This effedt is produced by fome unaccountable and fudden change 

 in the organs of fpeech, which is not confined to the human fpecies; 

 for the voice of a horfe or a bull is deeper after than before puberty. 



In 



