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hear fome path frequented by their prey, or fome 
•water at which the harmlefs tribes come to drink j 
and to feize them at once with a bound. The 
lion and the tiger are faid to leap twenty feet at a 
fpring ; and on their dexterity in this refpe6l they 
depend for a fupply, more than either their 
ftrength or fieetnefs. 
There is ftill another clafs of the carnivorous 
kind that hunts by the fcent, from which it is 
more difficult to eicape. All animals of this fort 
purfue in companies; and, by their mutual cries, 
encourage each other: of this kind are the jack- 
all, the fyagulh, the wolf, and the dog; and thefe 
purfue rather with perfeverance than fwiftnefs. 
At firft, their prey often leaves them feveral miles 
behind; but they proceed with a conftant fteady 
pace, exciting each other by a general fpirit of 
induftry and emulation, till at length they fliare 
the common plunder. Sometimes indeed it hap- 
pens, that the larger beafts of prey, on hearing a 
cry of this kind begun, purfue the pack; and, 
•when thefe have hunted down their prey, thofc 
make their appearance, and monopolize the fpoil : 
hence arofe the vulgar opinion of the jackall's 
being the lion's provider; while, in reality, the 
former hunts only for himfelf, and the latter is 
always an unwelcome intruder on the fruits of his 
induftry. 
But, notwithftanding all the powers which car- 
nivorous animals poflels, they generally lead a life 
of hunger and fatigue. Their prey has fo many 
methods of efcape, that they are often without 
food for twelve or fourteen days together: but 
nature has endued them with patience equal to 
their condition; and though their fubfiftence is 
precarious, their appetites are complying. They 
ufually roar when they feize their prey, perhaps to 
terrify it from refiftance, or to exprefs their joy at 
the acquifition: in general, they ravenoufly de- 
vour it, bones and all; and immediately retire to 
their dens, where they remain inaftive till the 
calls of hunger again excite their courage and in- 
duftry. 
Some of the moft defencelefs animals find pro- 
tedlion in holes, where nature has direfted them 
to bury themfelves; others owe their fatety to 
fwiftnefs ; and thofe who polTefs neither of thefe 
advantages, generally herd together, and, by their 
united force, endeavour to repel the attacks of 
their enemies. All indeed have a fpirit of mutual 
defence: the females fdl into the centre; while 
the males, forming a ring round them, oppofe 
their horns to the affailants. Some animals which 
feed on fruits, that are attainable at one feafon of 
the year only, ftore their cells with a variety of 
plants; and there lie concealed during the rigours 
of winter, contented with their prifons, which af- 
ford them both plenty and proteftion. Their 
holes are very artificially conftrucled. In gene- 
ral, they have two apertures, by one of which the 
little inhabitant can alv/ays efcape v;hen any 
ftronger animal has taken pofiefTion of the other : 
fuch are the contrivances of the badger, the hedge- 
hog, and the mole. Many creatures avoid their 
enemies by placing centinels to warn them of ap- 
proaching danger: a duty they generally perform 
by turns; and they have modes of punifliment for 
fuch as either defert their polls, or prove neglect- 
ful of their common fafety. 
Thefe are fome of the eiforrs exerted by the 
weaker races of Quadrupeds to elude their in- 
vaders, and they arc generally attended with luc- 
QUA 
cefs: fuch are the exertions of inftind: fOr fecurit}', 
w'hich are in general fufficient to repel the hofti- 
lities of inftind: only. Man is the only creature 
againft whom all their little arts can never pre- 
vail: wherever he has extended his dominion, 
fcarcely any flight can fave, or any retreat prote6l; 
terror feems to follow him; and all fociety ceafes 
among the inferior tenants of the plain; their 
union againft him can afford them no proteftion, 
and their utmoft cunning only proves their natural 
imbecillity. Such as lie has chofen to proted:, 
have calmly fubmitted to his fway; fuch as he 
has thought proper to deftroy, engage in an 
unequal conflid, and their numbers daily de- 
creafe. 
Before the untamed animal falls under the do- 
minion of man, he is fubjed: to few alterations. 
In a favage ftate, he continues for ages the fame, 
in fize, fiiape, and colour: but his external, and 
even internal form, is altered by human afilduitvi 
and this is one of the principal caufes of the great 
variety among the feveral Quadrupeds of the fame 
fpecies. By cultivation and care, man appears to 
have changed the very nature of domeftic ani- 
mals; and they feem to have few defires which h? 
is not willing to gratify. Humble, patient, re- 
figned, and attentive, they fubmit to the duties 
of their ftation; are reacly for labour, and fatis- 
fied with their allotted fubfiftence. 
The greater number of domeftic animals feem 
to bear the marks of fervitude very ftrongly upon 
them : the varieties in their colour, the length of 
their hair, together with the depending length of 
their ears, at once originate from, and indicate a 
long continuance of flavery. What a variety in 
the ordinary race of dogs and horfes! the chief 
differences of which have been effeded by the in- 
duftry of man, who has lb adapted the food, the 
treatment, the labour, and the climate, that the 
original defign of nature is fcarcely to be traced; 
and the tame animal no longer reprefents his an- 
ceftors of the woods. 
The favage animals preferve the marks of their 
original formation: their colours are generally 
the fame ; a rough dufky brown, or tawny, being 
almoft their only varieties. But, with refped to. 
tame animals, it is far otherwife: their colours are 
various, and their figures different; the nature of 
the climate, which indeed operates on all, has a 
peculiar eftedon them; the nourifhment furniftied 
by the hand of man is not adapted to their appe- 
tites, but to his own convenience; the climate, the 
rigours of which he can foften, and the various 
employments to which they are afTigned, produce 
innumerable diftindions, which are not to be 
found among the favage tribes. Though at firfl 
accidental, they in time becom.e hereditary; and 
a new race of artificial monfters is propagated, 
chiefly to gratify human pleafure. Their very 
appetites may be totally changed; and thofe ani- 
mals wiiich are naturally herbivorous, may be 
rendered fond of flefh. ' I have feen,' fays Gold- 
fmith, ' a fheep that would eat fiefti, and a horfe 
that would devour oyfters.' 
But not only their figures and appetites, but 
their very dilpofitions and natural fagacity, are 
altered by the vicinity of man. In countries un- 
frequented by the human fpecies, fome animals 
have been found cftablifhed in a kind of civil fo- 
ciety. Remote from the tyranny of man, they 
feem to be no ftrangers to mutual fricndfnip and 
benevolence. In thefe diftant folitudes, the bea- 
vers- 
