QUA 
are Unequal, with cavities and prominences, tal- 
lying with each other when the jaws are brought 
into contadr. Thefe inequalities ferve better for 
grinding and comminuting their food, but they 
grow fmoother with age: old animals, therefore, 
require a longer time to chew their cud than 
thofe in the prime and vigour of life. 
The legs and feet of Quadrupeds are entirely 
fuited to the refpe£live morions and exercifes of 
each. In fome, they are formed for ftrength only, 
in order to fupport a vaft unwieldy frame; and 
poflefs neither flexibility nor beauty. The ele- 
phant, the rhinoceros, and the fea-horfe, have 
legs refembling pillars: were they fmaller, they 
would be unable to fupport fo huge a body; flex- 
ibility and fwiftnefs would be entirely ufelefs, as 
they are not deft:ined to purfue other animals for 
their fupport ; and, confcious of their own fuperior 
ftrength, there are none which they ftudy to avoid. 
Deer, hares, and other animals whofe fafetv de- 
pends on flight, have flender and nervous legs: 
were it not for this advantage, their races would 
long fmce have been exterminated, as they would 
have neceflarily become the prey of every carni- 
vorous beaft. The means of fecurity are indeed 
fuperior to thofe of offence; and it is only by pa- 
tience, perfeverance, and induftry, that the pur- 
fuing animal can fucceed. Trie feet ot fome, 
which feed only on filh, are adapted for fwim- 
ming: the toes of thefe animals are connecled by 
membranes, like thofe of geefe and ducks, whereby 
they fwim with great rapidity. Animals which 
lead a life of hoflility, and prey for the micans of 
their fubfifl:ence, have their feet armed with fharp 
claws, which fome of them can flieath and un- 
fheath at pleafure: on the contrary, peaceful ani- 
mals generally have hoofs, which ferve fome of 
them as weapons of defence, and are more con- 
venient for all of them, in traverfing extenfive 
trafts of country, than the claw-feet of their op- 
preflbrs. 
The ftomachs of animals are generally propor- 
tioned to the quality of their food, or the facility 
with which it is procured. In thofe which fub- 
fifb on flefh, and fuch nutritive fubftances, the fbo- 
mach is fmall and glandular, affording fuch juices 
as are beft adapted to digeft and macerate it's con- 
tents. On the contrary) fuch animals as fubfifl: 
entirely on a vegetable diet, or fuch as chew the 
cud, have fourftomachs; all which ferve as fo 
many laboratories to prepare and turn their grofs 
food into proper nutriment. However, Buffon 
aflferts, that in Africa, where plants are more fuc- 
culent than in our temperate climates, fcveral 
animals, which v/ith us have four, are there found 
to have only two ftomachs: but it is certain that 
the fize of the inteftines is proportioned to the na- 
ture of the food in all animals; where that is 
plentifully furniihed, the fl:omach dilates, to an- 
fwer the increafe. It is large in domefl:ic ani- 
mals, which are abundantly fupplied ; but, in wild 
animals, whofe nor.rlfl:iment is precarious, it is 
more contradled, and the inteftines are confider- 
ably curtailed. 
Thus all animals are fitted by nature to fill up 
fome peculiar fhatlon. The largeft live an inof- 
fenfive life, ransfing the foreft without moleftinrr 
others; and, lupported by tlie fpontaneous pro- 
duftions of the earth, they neither attack nor fhun 
their fellow brutes. With their ftrength nature 
has joined gentle and inoffenfive diipofitions, 
otherwife thofr enormous ci"eatures would exercife 
dominion over the reft of the creation : for, were 
Vol. 11. 
0 U A 
the elephant, the rhinoceros, or the buffalo, ti% 
mifchievous as the lion, the tiger, and the wolf, 
the moft terrible devaftations would unavoidably 
enfue. 
To oppofe thofe larger animals, and, in fome 
degree, prevent their exuberance, there is a fpe- 
cies of the carnivorous kind inferior in ftrength, 
but of fuperior cunning and activity. The lion 
and the tiger lie in wait for the larger kinds o( 
prey, attack them at a difadvantage, and feize 
them by furprize. Except the dog alone, none 
of the carnivorous kinds make a voluntary attack, 
unlefs the advantage is on their fide: cowards by 
nature, they ufually feize their prey by a fudden 
fpring from their lurking-places; for the larger 
animals are too pov/erful for them, and the fmaller 
too fleet. 
A lion will not attack a horfe without much 
reluftance ; and nothing but the keeneft fenfation, 
of hunger can compel him to it. Comb:.ts be- 
tween the lion and the horfe are frequont in Italvj- 
who are both enclofed in a kind of amphitheatre. 
The lion wheels about as he approaches, v/hile 
the horfe prefents his hinder parts to the foe. 
The lion coniinues moving round and round, 
gradually narrowing his cucle till he finds him- 
felf at a proper diftance to make his fpring; and, 
at the verv inftant he leaps, the horfe ftrikes him 
with both legs from behind; and the deciflon is 
generally in his favour, for it more tl-equently 
happens that the lion is ftruck motionlefs by the 
blow th m that he effects his ftation between the 
horfe's flioulders. If the lion is either ftunned or 
left fprawling, the horfe generally leaves him with- 
out attempting another ftioke; but if the lion 
fuccecrds, he never quits the horfe till he has torn 
him in pieces. 
But hoftilities are not confined to the larger 
animals of the foreft; there are more treacherous 
contefts between tlie lov.'er ranks of Quadrupeds: 
the panther hunt^ for the flieep and the goat; the 
catamouncain for the hare or the rabbit; and the 
fquirrel and mouu? are the natural game of the 
wild cat. The deficiency of ftrength in each car- 
nivorous animal is fully atoned for by unwearied 
patience, affiduity, and cunning. 
The predacious tri'^'s generally exert their de- 
ftruftive talents by night. In countries inhabited 
by the human race, they are deterred by their 
fears during the day ; and in thofe extenfive re^ 
gions of which they reign the undifputed tyrants, 
they are difcouraged by the exceffive heat of the 
fun. As foon as the morning appears, they retire 
to their dens; at which time the elephant, the 
deer, and other innoxious animals, come abroad. 
But, when night returns, the ftate of hoftility com- 
mences: the whole foreft refounds with a variety 
of difl'crent howlings; the roaring of the lion, re^ 
fembling diftant thunder; the fhrill, but more hi- 
deous yells of the tiger; the jackall purfuing by 
the fcent, and barking like a dog; the hyaena, 
with a note peculiarly folemn and tremendous; 
and the hiffings of the various kinds of ferpents* 
All thefe founds form a concert dreadful beyond 
defcription, and terrible even in idea. 
However, beafts of prey feldom devour each 
other; and nothing but the greateft degree of 
hunger can induce them to it: yet, in fuch extre- 
mities, the weakeft affords it's antagonift but an 
ungrateful repaft. The deer or the goat is what 
they principally feek after, and which they either 
purlue or furprize. Among the fierceft animals, 
their moft ufual method is to hide themfelves 
3 H near 
