OF NATURAL HISTORY. 43J 



The Count de BufTon reprefents flieep as ftiipid creatures, which 

 are incapable of defending themfelves againft the attacks of any ra- 

 pacious animal. He maintains that the race nmA long ago have 

 been extinguifhed, if man had not taken them under his immediate 

 protedtion. But Nature has furnifhed every fpecies of animated beings 

 with weapons and arts of defence which are fufficient for individual 

 prefervation as well as the continuation of the kind. Sheep are en- 

 dowed with a ftrong aflbciating principle. When threatened with 

 an attack, like foldiers, they form a line of battle, and boldly face 

 the enemy. In a natural ftate, the rams conftitute one half of the 

 flock. They join together and form the front. When prepared in 

 this manner for repelling an affault, no lion or tiger can refift tk-eir 

 united impetuofity and force. 



A family of hogs, when in a ftate of natural liberty, never fepa- 

 rate till the young have acquired ftrength fufficient to repel the wolf. 

 When a wolf threatens an attack, the whole family unite their for- 

 ces, and bravely defend each other. 



The wild dogs of Africa hunt in packs, and carry on a perpetual 

 war againft other rapacious animals. The jackals of Afia and Africa 

 likewife hunt in packs. But, though animals of this kind mutually 

 affift each other in killing prey, individual advantage is the chief, if 

 not the only bond of this temporary union. 



Another kind of fociety Is obfervable among domeftic animals. 

 Horfes and oxen, when deprived of companions of their own fpe- 

 cies, aflbciate, and difcover a vifible attachment. A dog and an ox, 

 or a dog and a cow, when placed in certain circumftances, though 

 the fpecies are remote, and even hoftile, acquire a ftrong afFedlion for 

 each other. The fame kind of afTociation takes place between dogs 

 and cats, between cats and birds, &c. If domeftic animals had a 

 t 3 I ftrong 



