28o THE PHILOSOPHY 



There are other fpecies of pairing birds, whofe young, as foon as 

 they are hatched, are capable of eating their food when prefented tO' 

 them, and of courfe, require lefs labour from the parents. In thefe 

 fpecies, accordingly, the male pays no attention to the progeny, be- 

 caufe it is unneceflary ; but the mother carefully leads them about 

 to places where proper food is to be had, protects them from inju- 

 ries, and communicates heat to them by covering them with her 

 wings. 



Quadrupeds, efpeclally thofe which feed upon grafs, do not pair? 

 becaufe, while the female gives fuck to her young, flie herfelf is 

 feeding. Befide, the young of this tribe, very foon after birth, can 

 eat grafs and other vegetables. The Count de BufFon remarks, that 

 the roe-deer, though they feed upon grafs, are to be excepted from 

 this rule; for they pair, and have annually but one litter. Lions, 

 tigers, wolves, and other rapacious quadrupeds, do not pair. The 

 ■whole labour of procuring food is devolved upon the female, which 

 often fliortens her own life, as well as that of her offspring. In re- 

 lation to man, this is a fortunate circumftance ; for, if beafts of prey 

 paired, a dangerous multiplication of thofe deftrudtive fpecies would 

 be the confequence. But pairing is eflentially neceflary to birds of 

 prey ; becaufe, during the procefs of incubation, the female would 

 not have time fufEcient for procuring food ; which, in thefe animals, 

 requires both patience and addrefs. Some quadrupeds, particularly 

 thofe which lay up provifions for the winter, as the beaver, pair. 

 As foon as the young beavers are produced, the males abandon the 

 ftock of provifions to the females, and go in queff of food for theiit- 

 felves. But they by no means relinquifh their mates ; but frequent- 

 ly return and vifit them while they are fuckling their young. 



If man, and fome of the pairing animals be excepted, the feafons 

 of love are limited to particular times of the year, Thefe feafons, 



thougb; 



