.394 



THE PHILOSOPHY 



the carnivorous, would foon increafe to a hurtful degree. Carnivo- 

 rous animals are the barriers fixed by Nature to noxious inundations 

 of other kinds. The carnivorous tribes may be compared to the 

 hoe and the pruning hook, which, by diminifliing the number of 

 plants when too clofe, or lopping oflF their luxuriancies, make the 

 others grow to greater perfedion. To thofe fwarms of infeds which 

 cover the furface of the earth, are oppofed an army of birds, an ac- 

 tive, a vigilant, and a voracious race. Hares, rabbits, mice, rats, ate 

 expofed to the depredations of carnivorous quadrupeds and birds. 

 The larger cattle, as the ox, the deer, the fheep, &c. are not ex- 

 empted from enemies : And man, by the fuperiority of his mental 

 powers, checks the multiplication of the carnivorous tribes, and 

 maintains the balance and empire of the animal fyftem. Thofe fpe- 

 cies which are endowed with uncommon fertility have the greateft 

 number of enemies. The caterpillar, the puceron, and infedts in 

 general, one of the moft prolific tribes of animals, are attacked and 

 devoured by numerous hoftile bands. No fpecies, however, is ever 

 exhaufted. The balance between gain and lofs is perpetually pre- 

 ferved. The earth, the feas, the atmofphere, may be confidered as 

 an immenfe and variegated pafture. In this view, it is raoft judi- 

 cioufly cultivated and flocked by the numerous animated beings which 

 it is deftined to fupport. Every animal and every vegetable furnifli 

 fubfiflence to particular fpecies. Thus, nothing of value is loft; and 

 every fpecies is abundantly fupplied with food. 



That the general balance of animation is conftantly preferved, we 

 learn from daily experience. The reader, however, I prefume, will 

 not be difpleafed to have fome examples of the modes employed by 

 Nature to accomplifh this effed fuggefted to him. 



After an inundation of the Nile, the lower parts of Egypt are 

 greatly infefted with ferpents, frogs, mice, and other vermin. At 



that 



