390 THEPHILOSOPHY 



The fame inAinfllve flaughter, and probably for the fame reafons, 

 is made by the hornets. Towards the end of October, all the worms 

 and nymphs are dragged out of the neft and killed. The neuters 

 and males fall daily viftims to the cold j fo that, at the end of win- 

 ter, a few fertile females only remain to continue the fpecies. 



According to the adopted plan, we fhall finlfli this fubjed with 

 fome obfervations which may have a tendency to reconcile our 

 minds to a fyftem fo deftrudtive to individuals of every fpecies, that 

 humanity, when not enlightened by a ray of philofophy, is apt to 

 revolt, and to brand Nature with cruelty and oppreffion. Nature, 

 it mufl be confefTed, feems almoft indifferent to individuals, who 

 perifh every moment in millions, without any apparent compunc- 

 tion. But, with regard to fpecies of every defcriptlon, her uniform 

 and uninterrupted attention to the prefervation and continuation of 

 the great fyftem of animation is confpicuous, and merits admiration. 

 Life, it fhould appear, cannot be fupported without the intervention 

 of death. Through almoft the whole of animated Nature, as we 

 have feen, nothing but rapine, and the deflrudtion of individuals, 

 prevail. This deftrudion, however, has its ufe. Every animal, af- 

 ter death, adminifters life and happinefs to a number of others. In 

 many animals, the powers of digeftion, and of affimllation, are con- 

 fined to animal fubftances alone. If deprived of animal food, fuch 

 fpecies, it is evident, could not exift. The chief force of this obfer- 

 vation. It is admitted, is applicable folely to the carnivorous tribes, 

 ftridly fo denominated. But, from the fafts formerly enumerated, 

 and from the daily experience of every man, it is apparent, that, 

 perhaps, no animal does or can exift totally independent of food 

 that is or has been animated. Sheep, oxen, and all herbivorous ani- 

 mals, though not from choice, and even without confcioufnefs, daily 

 devour thoufands of infeds. This may be one reafon why cattle of 

 all kinds fatten fo remarkably in rich paftui:es; for infeds are always 



moft 



