464 THE PHILOSOPHY 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



Of the CharaSlers of Jtiimals. 



ON this fubje£l it never was intended to paint the charaders of 

 every fpecies, even of the larger animals. The reader will 

 eafily recolledt, that, in many parts of this work, much has already 

 been faid with regard to the tempers, difpofitions, and manners, of 

 a great number of animals. Thefe we fliall not repeat, but pro- 

 ceed to fome general remarks. 



On every animal Nature has imprinted a certain charaHer^ which 

 is indelibly fixed, and diftlnguifhes the fpecies. This charadter we 

 difcover by the adions, the air, the countenance, the movements, 

 and the whole external appearance. The courage of the lion, the 

 ferocity of the tiger, the voracioufnefs of the wolf, the pride of the 

 courfer, the dullnefs and indolence of the afs, the cunning and ad- 

 drefs of the fox, the afFedion and docility of the dog, the fubtlety 

 and felfifhnefs of the cat, the mildnefs of the flieep, the timidity of 

 the hare, the vivacity of the fquirrel, are proper examples. Thefe 

 charaders, when under the influence of domeftlcation, may be mo- 

 dified by education, of which rewards and punifhments are the chief 

 Inftruments employed. But the original charader, imprefl"ed by the 

 hand of Nature, is never fully obliterated. Thofe animals which 



feem 



