OF NATURAL HISTORY. 267 



' to other men, they are tormented with the conftant appearance of 

 ' that accumulated load of mifery they have created,' 



All animals, as well as thofe of the human fpecies, undergo, at the 

 age of puberty, fimiiar changes in the form of theii- bodies, and in 

 the difpofitions of their minds. From mild, placid, and gentle, they 

 become bold, reftlefs, and ungovernable. Their bodies are then, in 

 ftrength and fymmetry, perfe6lly accommodated to the new fenliments 

 which Nature, for wife purpofes, excites in their minds. In the 

 deer kind, the horns of the males appear not till they are fit for 

 multiplying the fpecies. At this period, the creft, the wattles, and 

 the plumage of the male gallinaceous birds acquire additional beauty, 

 and their courage and ftrength are greatly augmented. The pigeon, 

 jnftead of being querulous, timid, and voracious, whenever the age of 

 puberty arrives, feels emotions of a very different kind. Confcious of 

 the new vigour he has acquired, he afllimes a bold and important air. 

 He ftruts about with a majeftic pride, and immediately addreffes, with 

 all the gaiety of a lover, fome favourite female, whom he follicits 

 with the moft affiduous gallantry and attention. After the coy fe- 

 male gives her aflent, their after condud: exhibits fuch a mutual and 

 ardent affedion, and fuch a conftant fidelity, as afford no inconfide- 

 rable pattern to the human fpecies. 



"With regard to fifhes, we are totally ignorant of the periods when 

 the different tribes of them acquire the power of multiplying. From 

 the element they inhabit, from the rapidity of their motions, and 

 from their defultory and wandering mode of living, we are equally 

 ignorant of many other important parts of their oeconomy and man- 

 ners. This continues to be an ample field for future inveftigation, 

 and highly worthy of the attention of naturalifts. 



3 L I 2 The 



