OF NATURE. 
99 
Horfes chiefly refort to woods, and feed up- 
on leafy plants. 
Nay, fo various is the appetite of animals, 
that there is fcarcely any plant, which is not 
chofen by fome, and left untouched by others. 
The horfe gives up the water hemlock to the 
goat. The cow gives up the long-leaved wa- 
ter hemlock to the flieep. The goat gives up 
the monks-hood to the horfe, &c. for that 
which certain animals grow fat upon; others 
abhor as poifon. Hence no plant is abfolutely 
poifonous, but only refpedively. Thus the 
J purge , that is noxious to man, is a moil whoie- 
fome nourifhment to the caterpillar , Fn. 825. 
That animals may not deftroy themfelves for 
want of knowing this law, each of them is 
guarded by fuch a delicacy of tafte and fmell, 
that they can eafily diflinguifh what is pernici- 
ous from what is wholefome ; and when it hap- 
pens that different animals live upon the fame 
plants, flill one kind always leaves fomething 
for the other, as the mouths of all are not 
equally adapted to lay hold of the grafs , by 
which means there is fuflicient food for all. 
To this may be referred an oeconomical expe- 
riment well known to the Dutch, that when 
eight cows have been in a paflure, and can no 
H 2 longer 
