OF NATURAL HISTORY. 275 



domeftic ftate, is a placid and phlegmatic animal : But, whenever 

 ihe produces a calf, a wonderful change is exhibited : She inftantly 

 becomes vigilant, acflive, and even ferocious, in the defence of her 

 young. A lionefs deprived of her cubs prefents the moft dreadful 

 pidure of anxiety, rage, and rapacity. Defcending lower in the 

 fcale of animation, the fame change is to be remarked. A domeftic 

 hen is a timid, indocile, and obftinately ftupid creature. Though 

 chaced, harrafled, and even put in danger of her life, fifty times in 

 a day, fhe never learns to avoid a garden, or any particular place 

 which fhe is accuftomed to frequent, or to which fhe is led by her 

 appetite for food. But, the moment her chickens are hatched, in- 

 ftead of her ufual timidity, fhe becomes as bold as a lion. When 

 fhe thinks her young are in danger, fhe briftles up her feathers, af- 

 fumes a fiercenefs in her eye, makes an alarming noife, and attacks, 

 in the moft furious manner, and without diftindion, every animal 

 that comes near her. By the fuddennefs of her onfets, fhe often 

 alarms men, and adtually intimidates and beats off dogs and other 

 animals that could devour her in an inftant. 



Though feveral of the infedl tribes difcover a ftrong attachment 

 to their young, yet all thofe which undergo transformations, and do 

 not form focieties, muft be completely ignorant of the exiftence of 

 their progeny; becaufe, in general, the parents die before tiie young 

 are hatched. Nature, however, has endowed thofe fpecies with an 

 inftind which produces all the efFeds of parental afFedion ; They 

 uniformly depofit their eggs in fubftances which afford to the young, 

 immediately after their efcape from the egg, a nourilhment adapted 

 to their refpedive conftitutions, and a comfortable and fafe protec- 

 tion from injury Thus Nature, ever attentive to the continuation 

 and happlnefs of her produdions, however feemingly infignificant 

 in the fcale of being, often employs very different means to accom- 

 plifh the fame beneficent purpofes. 



M m 2 Nature 



