OF NATURAL HISTORY. 379 



and dreads neither the afped nor the arms of man. He facrifices 

 whole flocks of domeftic animals, and all the wild hearts which 

 come within the reach of his terrible claws. He attacks the young 

 of the elephant and rhinoceros, and fometimes even ventures to 

 brave the lion. His predominant inftindt is a perpetual rage, a 

 blind and undiftinguifhing ferocity, which often impel him to de- 

 vour his own young, and to tear their mother in pieces when flie 

 attempts to defend them. He delights in blood, and gluts himfelf 

 •with it till he is intoxicated. He tears the body for no other pur- 

 pofe than to plunge his head into it, and to drink large draughts of 

 blood, the fources of which are generally exhaufted before his thirft 

 is appeafed. The tiger is perhaps the only animal whofe ferocity 

 is unconquerable. Neither violence, reftraint, nor bribery, have any 

 tffefl: in foftening his temper. With harfli or gentle treatment he 

 is equally irritated. The mild and conciliating influence of fociety 

 makes no Impreflion on the obduracy and incorrigiblenefs of his 

 difpofition. Time, infl:ead of foftening the ferocioufnefs of his na- 

 ture, only exafperates his rage. He tears, with equal wrath, the 

 hand which feeds him, as that which is raifed to ftrike him. He 

 roars and grins at the fight of every living being. Every animated 

 objed: he regards as a frefh prey, which he devours before hand 

 with the avidity of his eyes, menaces it with frightful groans, and 

 often fprings at it, without regarding his chains, which only reftrain, 

 •but cannot calm his fury. 



In temperate climates, the wolf feems to exceed all other animals 

 in the ferocity and rapacioufnefs of his difpofition. When prefl'ed 

 with hunger, he braves every danger. He attacks all thofe animals 

 which are under the protedtion of man, efpecially fuch as he can 

 carry off with eafe, as Iambs, kids, and the fmaller kinds of dogs. 

 When fuccefsful in his expeditions, he returns often to the charge, 

 till, after being chaced and vs^ounded by men and dogs, he retires, 



3 B 2 during 



