14 / NATURAL HISTORY. 
afford room for the olfactory nerves; in many, itis 
fhort and thick, to ftrengthen the jaw, and qualify it 
for combat. ‘Their legs and feet are entirely formed 
to the nature and exigencies of the animal: When 
the body is heavy, the legs are thick and{ftrong; when 
it is light, they are active-and flender. Thofe that 
feed on fifh, are made for {wimming, by having webb- 
ed feet; thofe that prey upon animals, are provided 
with claws, which they can draw and {heath at pleaf- 
ure ; but the more\peaceable and domeftic animals are 
generally faurnithed with hoofs, which, being more 
neceffary for defence than attack, enable them to trav- 
erfe the inmenfe tracts which they are deftined to pafs 
over, either to ferve man, fearch for food, or avoid 
hottility. , 
DrsPoOsITION FOR Prey.....Beafts of prey feldom 
devour each other. Nothing but extreme hunger can 
induce them to commit this outrage againft nature ; 
“and, when they are obliged to feek fuch fubfiftence, 
the weakeft. affords to the ftronge{t but a difagreeable 
repaft. In fuch cafes, the deer or goat is what they 
particularly feek after, which they either take by pur- 
fuit or furprife. 
ed: ‘ ae 
‘NATURAL SAGACITY.....In countries uninhabit- 
el by man, fome*animals have been found in aeind 
of civil fociety, where they feemed united in mutual 
friendfhip and benevolence: But no fooner does man 
intrude upon their haunts, than their bond of fociety 
is difolved, and every animal feeks fafety in folitude. 
ft 
CLorHiInG oF ANIMALS.....In_ the colder cli- 
mates, they are covered with a fur, which preferves 
them from the inclemencies of the weather; in the 
more temperate, they have fhort, and in the warmer 
c imates they have {carcely any hair upontheir bodies. 
‘Thus we perceive that they are provided withclothing, 
according to the nature of their fituation. 
FeRocIrTyY..... Where men are the moft barbarous, 
animals are the moft ferocious. ‘Thofe produced in 
climates of extreme heat, poffefs a nature fo favage, 
4 
that they are {earcely ever tamed. : 
£ 

