OF NATURAL HISTORY. ^-^ 



of common obje£ts. But his intelled, it is more than probable, 

 would never reach the ufe of the verb, and other parts of fpeech. 



Befide parrots, jays, 8cc. who learn to pronounce articulate founds, 

 there is another race of birds whofe docility deferves to be mention- 

 ed. Singing birds, thofe, lively and fpiriied little animals, at- 

 tempt not to articulate. But their mufical ears are as delicate and 

 difcerning as their voices are melodious and delightful. The viva- 

 city, the extent of voice, and the imitative powers of thefe beautiful 

 creatures, have at all times excited the attention and conciliated the 

 afFedions of mankind. When domefticated, thefe birds, befide 

 their natural notes, foon acquire the faculty of finging confiderable 

 parts of artificial tunes. Thefe imitations are efFeds of natural in- 

 ftin(Sl. But, in exhibitions, 1 have feen linnets firaulate death, and 

 remain perfectly tranquil and unmoved, when fmall cannons were 

 fired, within an inch of their bodies, from a wooden fort. Thefe 

 little creatures have even been taught to lay hold of a match and 

 fire the cannons themfelves. 



The docility and fagacity of animals have always been confidered 

 as wonderful. But this wonder is partly the efFedl of inattention ; 

 for, though man is unqueftionably the chief of the animal creation, 

 the other animals, according to the number of inftincts, or, which 

 amounts to the fame thing, according to the mental powers with 

 which Nature has endowed them, comparatively approach to or re- 

 cede from the fagacity and genius of the human fpecies. The whole 

 is a graduated fcale of intelligence. A philofopher fhould, there- 

 fore, contemplate and admire the whole, but fhould never be fur- 

 prifed at any partial exhibitions of the general fcene of intelled: and 

 animation. 



. 3 M 2 We 



