INTRODUCTION* 
XXIX 
provided a very comfortable store. These seasons 
for coupling, however, among some of the domes- 
tic kinds, are generally in consequence of the quan- 
tity of provisions with which they are at any time 
supplied. Thus we may, by feeding any of these 
animals, and keeping off the rigour of the climate* 
make them breed whenever we please. In this 
manner those contrive who produce lambs all the 
year round. 
The choice of situation in bringing forth is also 
very remarkable. In most of the rapacious kinds* 
the female takes the utmost precautions to hide 
the place of her retreat from the male ; who other- 
wise, when pressed by hunger, would be apt to 
devour her cubs. She seldom, therefore, strays 
far from the den* and never approaches it while 
he is in view, nor visits him again till her young 
are capable of providing for themselves. Such 
animals as are of tender constitutions take the 
utmost care to provide a place of warmth* as well 
as safety* for their young; the rapacious kinds 
bring forth in the thickest woods ; those that chew 
the cud* with the various tribes of the vermin 
kindj» choose some hiding-place in the neighbour- 
hood of man. Some dig holes in the ground ; 
some choose the hollow of a tree ; and all the am- 
phibious kinds bring up their young near the 
water* and accustom them betimes to their proper 
element. 
.X . . f r 
Mammalia* or viviparous quadrupeds* are dis- 
tributed by Linnaeus into seven orders* viz. Pri- 
