OF NATURAL HISTORY. 311 



progrefs of human architedure, which, in the earlier ftages of focie-- 

 ty, is extremely rude, but to confine ourfelves to that of the inferior 

 tribes of animated beings. 



With regard to ^adrupeds, many of them employ no kind of 

 architedure, but live continually, and bring forth their young, in 

 the open air. When not under the immediate protection of man, 

 thefe fpecies, in rough or ftormy weather, fhelter themfelves among 

 trees or bufhes, retire under the coverture of projedting rocks, or 

 the fides of hills oppofite to thofe from which the wind proceeds. 

 Befide thefe arts of defence, to which the creatures are prompted by 

 inftindl and experience, Nature furnifhes them, during the winter 

 months, with a double portion of long hair, which prote£ts them 

 from cold, and other aflaults of the weather. 



Of the quadrupeds that make or choofe habitations for themfelves, 

 fome dig holes in the earth, fome take refuge in the cavities of de- 

 cayed trees, and in the clefts of rocks, and fome adluaily conftrudt 

 cabins or houfes. But the artifices they employ, the materials they 

 ufe, and the fituauons they feled, are fo various, and fo numerous, 

 that our plan necefTarily limits us to a few of the more curious ex- 

 amples* 



The Alpine marmot is a quadruped about fixteen inches irr length, 

 and has a (hort tail. In figure, the marmots have fome refemblance- 

 both to the rat and to the bear. When tamed, they eat every thing 

 prefented to them, as flefh, bread, fruit, roots, pot-herbs, infeds, &c. 

 They delight in the regions of froft and of fnow, and are only to be 

 found on the tops of the higheft mountains. Thefe animals remain 

 in a torpid ftate during winter. About the end of September or the 

 beginning of Odlober, they retire into their holes, and never come- 

 abroad again till the beginning of April. Their retreats are formed 



with 



