OF NATURAL HISTORY. 281 



though various, are admirably adapted to the nature and oeconomy 

 of the different fpecies. In all animals of this kind, the feafons of 

 love, and the times of female geftation, are fo contrived by Nature, 

 that the offspring, when brought forth, are amply fupplied with the 

 particular fpecies of food upon which they principally live. Though 

 the times of geftation vary confiderably among fuch quadrupeds as 

 feed upon grafs, the refpedtivc females uniformly bring forth early 

 in fummer, when the grafs is tender and luxuriant. The mare comes 

 in feafon in fummer, carries eleven months, and is delivered in the 

 beginning of May. Sheep and goats come in feafon in the end of 

 Odober or beginning of November. They carry five months, and 

 produce when the grafs begins to fpring. It is worthy of obferva- 

 tion, that, though the times of geftation in the fame fpecies, and in 

 all latitudes, never alter, yet the feafons of love, and times of deli- 

 very, vary with the climate. In Italy, fheep come in feafon in the 

 months of June or July. The females, as ufual, carry five months, 

 and bring forth in November or December, the very period when 

 grafs, in that climate, is in its beft ftate for pafture; for, in April, 

 it is burnt up, and fheep have nothing to browfe upon but flirubs. 

 The rutting feafon of the ftag is in the end of September and be- 

 ginning of October, and the female brings forth in May or the 

 beginning of June. Thefe animals inhabit the higheft mountains 

 of Scotland, where the grafs, of courfe, does not begin to fpring fo 

 early as in the lower parts of that country. Beavers come in fea- 

 fon about the end of autumn, and bring forth in January, when their 

 ftore-houfes are full of provifions. The young of pairing birds are 

 produced in the fpring, when the weather begins to be comfortably 

 warm, and their natural food abounds. In a word, the bringing 

 forth, or hatching, of all animals, not excluding the infedb tribes, 

 uniformly takes place at thofe feafons of the year when the nature 

 of the weather, and the food peculiar to the fpecies, are beft adapted 

 to the conftitution of their offspring. Caterpillars of every kind are 

 2 f N n never 



