xl INTRODUCTION. 
lefs; but prefently the meagre one, prefled 
by hunger, approached and attacked the 
firanger. It returned leveral times to the 
charge ; and in thefe duTerent conflicts its 
enemy being deprived of almo!l ail its claws, 
it carried them away, and retired to its for- 
mer fituation to devour them. The meagre 
one itfelf had alfo loft three of its claws, on 
which it equally fed ; and I perceived that its 
plumpnefs was in forne meafure reftored by 
this repaft. At length, the new,^comer, de- 
prived of all its m^eans of defence, fell the 
next day a facrifice. It was fpeedily devour- 
ed ; and in lefs than twenty-four hours the 
old inhabitant of the bell became as round 
as it had been at the firft moment of its con- 
finement. 
Other animals can by no means endure the 
fame degree of hunger. An abftinence of a 
few days is fufFicient to deftroy them; and 
the term will be iliorter or longer according 
to 
