NATURAL HISTORY. 
animal perfeftion, how little reafon ha\'c we 
to be vain of out corporeal qualities ! 
Figure . — The lieacls of quadrupeds are ge- 
nerally adapted to their mode of living. In 
fome it is fliarp, to enable them to turn up 
the earth, where they find their food depofi- 
ted ; in others, it is long, in order to afford 
room for the olfa£fory nerves ; in many, it 
is fliort and thick, to flrengthen the jaw, and 
qualify it for combat. Their legs and feet 
are entirely formed to the nature and exigen- 
cies of the animal. When the body is hea- 
vy, the legs are thick and flrong ; when it is 
light, they are aftive and {lender. Thofe 
that feed on fifii, are made for fwimming, by 
having webbed feet : thofe that prey upon 
animals, are provided with claws which they 
can draw and flicath at pleafure ; but the 
more peaceable and domeflic animals are ge- 
nerally furnifhcil with hoofs, which, being 
more necell'ary for defence than attack, ena- 
ble them to traverfe the immenfe tradfs which 
they are deflined to pafs over, cither to ferve 
man, fearch for food, or avoid hoflility. 
Dijpofition for />re)/.--Bealls of prey fel- 
dom devour each other. Nothing but ex- 
treme hunger can induce them to commit 
this outrage againft natui'C ; and, when they 
are obliged to feck luch fubfiftence, the weak- 
efl affords to the ftrongeft but a difagreeable 
repaft. In fuch cafes, the deer or goat is 
what they particularly feek after, which they 
either take by purfuit or furprife. 
Natural 
