WERE it neceſſary to diſtinguiſh animals of the rat kind from all others, we might deſcribe them as having two large cutting teeth, like the hare kind, in each jaw; as covered with hair; and as not ruminating. Theſe diſtinctions might ſerve to guide us, had we not too near an acquaintance with this noxious race to be miſtaken in their kind. Their numbers, their minuteneſs, their vicinity, their vaſt multiplication, all ſufficiently contribute to preſs them upon our obſervation, and remind us of their exiſtence. Indeed, if we look through the different ranks of animals, from the largeſt to the ſmalleſt, from the great elephant to the diminutive mouſe, we ſhall find that we ſuffer greater injuries from the contemptible meanneſs of the one, than the formidable invaſions of the other. Againſt the elephant, the rhinoceros, or the lion, we can oppoſe united ſtrength; and by art make up the deficiencies of natural power: theſe we have driven into their native ſolitudes, and obliged to continue at a diſtance, in the moſt inconvenient regions and unhealthful climates. But it is otherwiſe with the little teizing race I am now deſcribing: no force can be exerted againſt their unreſiſting timidity; no arts can diminiſh their amazing propagation: millions may be at once deſtroyed, and yet the breach be repaired in the ſpace of a very few weeks; and, in proportion as Nature has denied them force, it has ſupplied the defect by their fecundity.

Of theſe, the animal beſt known at preſent, and in every reſpect the moſt miſchievous, is the Great Rat; which, though but a new comer into this country, has taken too ſecure a poſſeſſion to be ever removed. This hateful and rapacious creature, though ſometimes called the Rat of Norway, is utterly unknown in all the northern countries, and, by the beſt accounts I can learn, comes originally from the Levant. Its firſt arrival, as I am aſſured, was upon the coaſts of Ireland, in thoſe ſhips that traded in proviſions to Gibraltar; and perhaps we owe to a ſingle pair of theſe animals, the numerous progeny that now infeſts the whole extent of the Britiſh Empire.

This animal, which is called by Mr. Buffon the Surmalot, is in length about nine inches; its eyes are large and black; the colour of the head, and the whole upper part of the body, is of a light brown, mixed with tawny and aſh colour. The end of the noſe, the throat and belly, are of a dirty white, inclining to a grey; the feet and legs are almoſt bare, and of a dirty pale fleſh colour; the tail is as long as the body, covered with minute duſky ſcales, mixed with a few hairs, and adds to the general deformity of its deteſtable figure. It is chiefly in the colour that this animal differs from the Black Rat, or the Common Rat, as it was once called; but now common no longer. This new invader, in a very few years after its arrival, found means to deſtroy almoſt the whole ſpecies, and to poſſeſs itſelf of their retreats.

But it was not againſt the Black Rat alone that its rapacity was directed; all other animals of inferior ſtrength ſhared the ſame misfortunes. The conteſt with the black rat was of ſhort continuance. As it was unable to contend, and had no holes to fly to for retreat, but where its voracious enemy could purſue, the whole race was ſoon extinguiſhed. The Frog alſo was an animal equally incapable of combat or defence. It had been deſignedly introduced into the kingdom of Ireland ſome years before the Norway rat; and it was ſeen to multiply amazingly. The inhabitants were pleaſed with the propagation of an harmleſs animal, that ſerved to rid their fields of inſects; and even the prejudices of the people were in its favour, as they ſuppoſed that the frog contributed to render their waters more wholeſome. But the Norway rat ſoon put a ſtop to their encreaſe; as theſe animals were of an amphibious nature, they purſued the frog to its lakes and took it even in its own natural element. I am, therefore, aſſured, that the frog is once more almoſt extinct in that kingdom; and that the Norway rat, having no more enemies left there to deſtroy, is grown leſs numerous alſo.

We are not likely, therefore, to gain by the deſtruction of our old domeſtics, ſince they are replaced by ſuch miſchievous ſucceſſors. The Norway rat has the ſame diſpoſition to injure us, with much greater power of miſchief. It burrows in the banks of rivers, ponds, and ditches; and is every year known to do incredible damage to thoſe mounds that are raiſed to conduct ſtreams, or to prevent rivers from overflowing. In theſe holes, which it forms pretty near the edge of the water, it chiefly reſides during the ſummer, where it lives upon ſmall animals, fiſh, and corn. At the approach of winter, it comes nearer the farm houſes; burrows in their corn, eats much, and damages ſtill more than it conſumes. But nothing that can be eaten, ſeems to eſcape its voracity. It deſtroys rabbits, poultry, and all kinds of game; and, like the polecat, kills much more than it can carry away. It ſwims with great eaſe, dives with great celerity, and eaſily thins the fiſh pond. In ſhort, ſcarce any of the feebler animals eſcape its rapacity, except the mouſe, which ſhelters itſelf in its little hole, where the Norway rat is too big to follow.

Theſe animals frequently produce from fifteen to thirty at a time Buffon, vol. xvii. p. 2. ; and uſually bring forth three times a year. This great encreaſe would quickly be found to overrun the whole country, and render our aſſiduity to deſtroy them fruitleſs, were it not, happily for us, that they eat and deſtroy each other. The ſame inſatiable appetite that impels them to indiſcriminate carnage, alſo incites the ſtrongeſt to devour the weakeſt, even of their own kind. The large male rat generally keeps in an hole by itſelf, and is as dreaded by its own ſpecies, as the moſt formidable enemies. In this manner the number of theſe vermin is kept within due bounds; and when their encreaſe becomes injurious to us, it is repreſſed by their own rapacity.

But beſide their own enmities among each other, all the ſtronger carnivorous quadrupedes have natural antipathies againſt them. The dog, though he deteſts their fleſh, yet openly declares his alacrity to purſue them; and attacks them with great animoſity. Such as are trained up to killing theſe vermin, diſpatch them often with a ſingle ſqueeze: but thoſe dogs that ſhew any heſitation, are ſure to come off but indifferently; for the rat always takes the advantage of a moment's delay, and, inſtead of waiting for the attack, becomes the aggreſſor, ſeizing its purſuer by the lip, and inflicting a very painful and dangerous wound. From the inflammation, and other angry ſymptoms that attend this animal's bite, ſome have been led to think that it was in ſome meaſure venemous; but it is likely that the difficulty of the wound's healing, ariſes merely from its being deep and lacerated by the teeth, and is rather a conſequence of the figure of the inſtruments that inflict it, than any venom they may be ſuppoſed to poſſeſs.

The cat is another formidable enemy of this kind; and yet the generality of our cats neither care to attack it, nor to feed upon it when killed. The cat is a more prudent hunter than the dog, and will not be at the pains to take or combat with an enemy that is not likely to repay her time and danger. Some cats, however, will purſue and take the rat; though often not without an obſtinate reſiſtance. If hungry alſo, the cat will ſometimes eat the head; but, in general, ſhe is merely content with her victory.

A foe much more dangerous to theſe vermin is the weaſel. This animal purſues them with avidity; and being pretty nearly of their own ſize, follows them into their holes, where a deſperate combat enſues. The ſtrength of each is pretty near equal; but the arms are very different. The rat, furniſhed with four long tuſks at the extremity of its jaw, rather ſnaps than bites; but the weaſel, where it once faſtens, holds, and continuing alſo to ſuck the blood at the ſame time, weakens its antagoniſt, and always obtains the victory. Mankind have contrived ſeveral other methods of deſtroying theſe noxious intruders; ferrets, traps, and particularly poiſon: but of all other poiſons, I am told that the nux vomica, ground and mixed with meal, is the moſt certain, as it is the leaſt dangerous.

To this ſpecies I will ſubjoin as a variety, the Black Rat, mentioned above, greatly reſembling the former in figure, but very diſtinct in nature, as appears from their mutual antipathy. This animal was formerly as miſchievous as it was common; but at preſent it is almoſt utterly extirpated by the great rat, one malady often expelling another. It is become ſo ſcarce, that I do not remember ever to have ſeen one. It is ſaid to be poſſeſſed of all the voracious and unnatural appetites of the former; though, as it is leſs, they may probably be leſs noxious. Its length is about ſeven inches; and the tail is near eight inches long. The colour of the body is of a deep iron grey, bordering upon black, except the belly, which is of a dirty cinereous hue. They have propagated in America in great numbers, being originally introduced from Europe; and as they ſeem to keep their ground wherever they get footing, they are now become the moſt noxious animals in that part of the world.

To this alſo we may ſubjoin the Black Water Rat, about the ſame ſize with the latter, with a larger head, a blunter noſe, leſs eyes, and ſhorter ears, and the tip of its tail a little white. It was ſuppoſed by Ray to be web footed; but this has been found to be a miſtake, its toes pretty much reſembling thoſe of its kind. It never frequents houſes; but is uſually found on the banks of rivers, ditches and ponds, where it burrows and breeds. It feeds on fiſh, frogs, and inſects; and in ſome countries it is eat on faſting days.

ANIMALS of the Hedge-hog kind require but very little accuracy to diſtinguiſh them from all others. That hair which ſerves the generality of quadrupedes for warmth and ornament, is partly wanting in theſe; while its place is ſupplied by ſharp ſpines or prickles, that ſerve for their defence. This general characteriſtic, therefore, makes a much more obvious diſtinction than any that can be taken from their teeth or their claws. Nature, by this extraordinary peculiarity, ſeems to have ſeparated them in a very diſtinguiſhed manner; ſo that, inſtead of claſſing the hedge-hog among the moles, or the porcupine with the hare, as ſome have done, it is much more natural and obvious to place them, and others approaching them in this ſtrange peculiarity, in a claſs by themſelves: nor let it be ſuppoſed, that while I thus alter their arrangement, and ſeparate them from animals with which they have been formerly combined, that I am deſtroying any ſecret affinities that exiſt in nature. It is natural, indeed, for readers to ſuppoſe, when they ſee two ſuch oppoſite animals as the hare and the porcupine aſſembled together in the ſame groupe, that there muſt be ſome material reaſon, ſome ſecret connexion, for thus joining animals ſo little reſembling each other in appearance. But the reaſons for this union were very ſlight, and merely aroſe from a ſimilitude in the fore teeth: no likeneſs in the internal conformation; no ſimilitude in nature, in habitudes, or diſpoſition; in ſhort, nothing to faſten the link that combines them, but the ſimilitude in the teeth: this, therefore, may be eaſily diſpenſed with; and, as was ſaid, it will be moſt proper to claſs them according to their moſt ſtriking ſimilitudes.

The Hedge-hog, with an appearance the moſt formidable, is yet one of the moſt harmleſs animals in the world: unable or unwilling to offend, all its precautions are only directed to its own ſecurity; and it is armed with a thouſand points, to keep off the enemy, but not to invade him. While other creatures truſt to their force, their cunning, or their ſwiftneſs, this animal, deſtitute of all, has but one expedient for ſafety; and from this alone it often finds protection. As ſoon as it perceives itſelf attacked, it withdraws all its vulnerable parts, rolls itſelf into a ball, and preſents nothing but its defenſive thorns to the enemy; thus, while it attempts to injure no other quadrupede, they are equally incapable of injuring it: like thoſe knights, we have ſomewhere read of, who were armed in ſuch a manner, that they could neither conquer others, nor be themſelves overcome.

This animal is of two kinds; one with a noſe like the ſnout of an hog; the other, more ſhort and blunt, like that of a dog. That with the muzzle of a dog is the moſt common, being about ſix inches in length, from the tip of the noſe to the inſertion of the tail. The tail is little more than an inch long; and ſo concealed by the ſpines, as to be ſcarce viſible: the head, back, and ſides, are covered with prickles; the noſe, breaſt, and belly, are covered with fine ſoft hairPraeputium propendeus. Linnaei Syſt. 75. And of the female he might have ſaid, reſupina copulatur.; the legs are ſhort, of a duſky colour, and almoſt bare; the toes on each foot are five in number, long and ſeparated; the prickles are about an inch in length, and very ſharp pointed; their lower part is white, the middle black, and the points white: the eyes are ſmall, and placed high in the head; the ears are round, pretty large, and naked; the mouth is ſmall, but well furniſhed with teeth; theſe, however, it only uſes in chewing its food, but neither in attacking or defending itſelf againſt other animals. Its only reliance in caſes of danger, is on its ſpines; the inſtant it perceives an enemy, it puts itſelf into a poſture of defence, and keeps upon its guard until it ſuppoſes the danger over. On ſuch occaſions, it immediately alters its whole appearance: from its uſual form, ſomewhat reſembling a ſmall animal, with a bunch on its back, the animal begins to bend its back, to lay its head upon its breaſt, to ſhut its eyes, to roll down the ſkin of its ſides towards the legs, to draw theſe up, and, laſtly, to tuck them in on every ſide, by drawing the ſkin ſtill cloſer. In this form, which the hedge-hog always puts on when diſturbed, it no way reſembles an animal, but rather a roundiſh maſs of prickles, impervious on every ſide. The ſhape of the animal thus rolled up, ſomewhat reſembles a cheſtnut in the huſk; there being, on one ſide, a kind of flat ſpace, which is that on which the head and legs have been tucked in.

Such is the uſual appearance of the hedge-hog, upon the approach of any danger. Thus rolled up in a lump, it patiently waits till its enemy paſſes by, or is fatigued with fruitleſs attempts to annoy it. The cat, the weaſel, the ferret, and the martin, quickly decline the combat; and the dog himſelf generally ſpends his time in empty menaces, rather than in effectual efforts. Every encreaſe of danger only encreaſes the animal's precautions to keep on its guard; its aſſailant vainly attempts to bite, ſince he thus more frequently feels than inflicts a wound; he ſtands enraged and barking, and rolls it along with his paws; ſtill, however, the hedge-hog patiently ſubmits to every indignity, but continues ſecure; and ſtill more to diſguſt its enemy with the conteſt, ſheds its urine, the ſmell of which is alone ſufficient to ſend him away. In this manner the dog, after barking for ſome time, leaves the hedge-hog where he found him; who perceiving the danger paſt, at length peeps out from its ball, and, if not interrupted, creeps ſlowly to its retreat.

The hedge-hog, like moſt other wild animals, ſleeps by day, and ventures out by night. It generally reſides in ſmall thickets, in hedges, or in ditches covered with buſhes; there it makes an hole of about ſix or eight inches deep, and lies well wrapped up, in moſs, graſs, or leaves. Its food is roots, fruits, worms, and inſects. It is alſo ſaid to ſuck cattle, and hurt their udders; but the ſmallneſs of its mouth will ſerve to clear it from this reproach. It is ſaid alſo to be very hurtful in gardens and orchards, where it will roll itſelf in an heap of fruit, and ſo carry a large quantity away upon its prickles; but this imputation is as ill grounded as the former, ſince the ſpines are ſo diſpoſed, that no fruit will ſtick upon them, even if we ſhould try to fix them on. It rather appears to be a very ſerviceable animal, in ridding our fields of inſects and worms, which are ſo prejudicial to vegetation.

Mr. Buffon, who kept theſe animals tame about his houſe, acquits them of the reproach of being miſchievous in the garden; but then he accuſes them of tricks, of which from the form and habits of this animal one would be never led to ſuſpect them. "I have often," ſays he, "had the female and her young brought me about the beginning of June: they are generally from three to five in number: they are white in the beginning, and only the marks of their ſpines appear: I was willing to rear ſome of them, and accordingly put the dam and her young into a tub, with abundant proviſion beſide them; but the old animal, inſtead of ſuckling her young, devoured them all, one after another. On another occaſion, an hedge-hog that had made its way into the kitchen, diſcovered a little pot, in which there was meat prepared for boiling; the miſchievous animal drew out the meat, and left its excrements in

WHEN we talk of a quadrupede, the name ſeems to imply an animal covered with hair; when we mention a bird, it is natural to conceive a creature covered with feathers; when we hear of a fiſh, its ſcales are generally the firſt part that ſtrikes our imagination. Nature, however, owns none of our diſtinctions; various in all her operations, ſhe mixes her plans, groupes her pictures, and excites our wonder as well by her general laws as by her deviations. Quadrupedes, which we have conſidered as making the firſt general claſs in animated nature, and next to man the moſt dignified tenants of the earth, are yet in many reſpects related to the claſſes beneath them, and do not in every reſpect preſerve their uſual diſtinctions. Their firſt character, which conſiſts in having four feet, is common to the lizard kind as well as to them. The ſecond prerogative, which is that of bringing forth living young, is found in the cetaceous tribe of fiſhes, and alſo in inſects without number. Their third and laſt attribute, which ſeems more general and conſtant than the former, that of being covered with hair, is yet found in various other animals, and is deficient in quadrupedes themſelves. Thus we muſt be cautious of judging of the nature of animals from one ſingle character, which is always found incomplete; for it often happens that three or four of the moſt general characters will not ſuffice. It muſt be by a general enumeration of the parts that we can determine preciſely of the works of the creation; and, inſtead of definitions, learn to deſcribe. Had this method been followed, much of the diſguſt and the intricacy of hiſtory might have been avoided, and that time, which is now employed in combating error, laid out in the promoting of ſcience.

Were we to judge of nature from definitions only, we ſhould never be induced to ſuppoſe that there exiſted races of viviparous quadrupedes deſtitute of hair, and furniſhed with ſcales and ſhells in their ſtead. However, nature, every way various, ſupplies us with many inſtances of theſe extraordinary creatures; the old world has its quadrupedes covered with ſcales, and the new with a ſhell. In both they reſemble each other, as well in the ſtrangeneſs of their appetites as in their aukward conformation. Like animals but partially made up, and partaking of different natures, they want thoſe inſtincts which animals formed but for one element alone are found to poſſeſs. They ſeem to be a kind of ſtrangers in nature, creatures taken from ſome other element, and capriciouſly thrown to find a precarious ſubſiſtence upon land.

The Pangolin, which has been uſually called the Scaly Lizard, Mr. Buffon very judiciouſly reſtores to that denomination by which it is known in the countries where it is found The calling it a lizard, he juſtly obſerves, might be apt to produce error, and occaſion its being confounded with an animal which it reſembles only in its general form, and in its being covered with ſcales. The lizard may be conſidered as a reptile, produced from an egg; the pangolin is a quadrupede, and brought forth alive and perfectly formed. The lizard is all over covered with the marks of ſcales; the pangolin has ſcales neither on the throat, the breaſt, or the

HAVING in the laſt chapter deſcribed a race of animals that unite the boundaries between quadrupedes and inſects, I come in this to a very different claſs, that ſerve to fill up the chaſm between quadrupedes and birds. Some naturaliſts, indeed, have found animals of the bat kind ſo much partaking of the nature of both, that they have been at a loſs in which rank to place them, and have doubted, in giving the hiſtory of the Bat, whether it was a beaſt or a bird they were deſcribing. Theſe doubts, however, no longer exiſt; they are now univerſally made to take their place among quadrupedes, to which their bringing forth their young alive, their hair, their teeth, as well as the reſt of their habitudes and conformation, evidently entitle them. Pliny, Geſner, and Aldrovandus, who placed them among birds, did not conſider that they wanted every character of that order of animals, except the power of flying. Indeed, when this animal is ſeen with an aukward and ſtruggling motion, ſupporting itſelf in the air at the duſk of the evening, it preſents in ſome meaſure the appearance of a bird; but naturaliſts, whoſe buſineſs it is to examine it more cloſely, to watch its habitudes, and inſpect into its formation, are inexcuſable for concurring in the miſtake.

The bat in ſcarce any particular reſembles the bird, except in its power of ſuſtaining itſelf in the air. It brings forth its young alive; it ſuckles them; its mouth is furniſhed with teeth; its lungs are formed like thoſe of quadrupedes; its inteſtines, and its ſkeleton, have a complete reſemblance, and even are, in ſome meaſure, ſeen to reſemble thoſe of mankindPenis Propendens..

The bat moſt common in England, is about the ſize of a mouſe; or nearly two inches and an half long. The membranes that are uſually called wings, are, properly ſpeaking, an extenſion of the ſkin all round the body, except the head, which, when the animal flies, is kept ſtretched on every ſide, by the four interior toes of the fore feet, which are enormouſly long, and ſerve like maſts that keep the canvaſs of a ſail ſpread, and regulate its motions Britiſh Zoology. . The firſt toe is quite looſe, and ſerves as a heel when the bat walks, or as an hook, when it would adhere to any thing. The hind feet are diſengaged from the ſurrounding ſkin, and divided into five toes, ſomewhat reſembling thoſe of a mouſe. The ſkin by which it flies is of a duſky colour. The body is covered with a ſhort fur, of a mouſe colour, tinged with red. The eyes are very ſmall; the ears like thoſe of a mouſe.

This ſpecies of the bat is very common in England. It makes its firſt appearance early in ſummer, and begins its flight in the duſk of the evening. It principally frequents the ſides of woods, glades, and ſhady walks; and is frequently obſerved to ſkim along the ſurface of pieces of water. It purſues gnats, moths, and nocturnal inſects of every kind. It feeds upon theſe; but will not refuſe meat, wherever it can find it. Its flight is a laborious, irregular movement; and if it happens to be interrupted in its courſe, it cannot readily prepare for a ſecond elevation; ſo that if it ſtrikes againſt any object, and falls to the ground, it is uſually taken. It appears only in the moſt pleaſant evenings, when its prey is generally abroad, and flies in purſuit with its mouth open. At other times it continues in its retreat; the chink of a ruined building, or the hollow of a tree. Thus this little animal, even in ſummer, ſleeps the greateſt part of its time, never venturing out by day-light, nor in rainy weather; never hunting in queſt of prey, but for a ſmall part of the night, and then returning to its hole. But its ſhort life is ſtill more abridged by continuing in a torpid ſtate during the winter. At the approach of the cold ſeaſon, the bat prepares for its ſtate of lifeleſs inactivity, and ſeems rather to chuſe a place where it may continue ſafe from interruption, than where it may be warmly or conveniently lodged. For this reaſon it is uſually ſeen hanging by its hooked claws to the roofs of caves, regardleſs of the eternal damps that ſurround it. The bat ſeems the only animal that will venture to remain in theſe frightful ſubterranean abodes, where it continues in a torpid ſtate, unaffected by every change of the weather. Such of this kind as are not provident enough to procure themſelves a deep retreat, where the cold and heat ſeldom vary, are ſometimes expoſed to great inconveniences, for the weather often becomes ſo mild in the midſt of winter as to warm them prematurely into life, and to allure them from their holes in queſt of food, when Nature has not provided a ſupply. Theſe, therefore, have ſeldom ſtrength to return; but, having exhauſted themſelves in a vain purſuit, after inſects which are not to be found, are deſtroyed by the owl, or any other animal that follows ſuch petty prey.

The bat couples and brings forth in ſummer, generally from two to five at a time: of this I am certain, that I have found five young ones in a hole together; but whether they were the iſſue of one parent, I cannot tell. The female has but two nipples, and thoſe forward on the breaſt, as in the human kind. This was a ſufficient motive for Linnaeus to give it the title of a Primas, to rank it in the ſame order with mankind; and to puſh this contemptible animal among the chiefs of the creation. Such arbitrary aſſociations produce rather ridicule than inſtruction, and render even method contemptible: however, we are to forgive too ſtrong an attachment to ſyſtem in this able naturaliſt, ſince his application to the particular hiſtory of the animal, counterbalances the defect Fauna Succica. p. 8. .

From Linnaeus we learn, that the female makes no neſt for her young, as moſt birds and quadrupedes are known to do. She is barely content with the firſt hole ſhe meets, where ſticking herſelf by her hooks againſt the ſides of her apartment, ſhe permits her young to hang at the nipple, and in this manner to continue for the firſt or ſecond day. When, after ſome time, the dam begins to grow hungry, and finds a neceſſity of ſtirring abroad, ſhe takes her little ones and ſticks them to the wall, in the manner ſhe before hung herſelf; there they immoveably cling, and patiently wait till her return.

Thus far this animal ſeems cloſely allied to the quadrupede race. Its ſimilitude to that of birds is leſs ſtriking. As Nature has furniſhed birds with extremely ſtrong pectoral muſcles, to move the wings, and direct their flight, ſo has it alſo furniſhed this animal. As birds alſo have their legs weak, and unfit for the purpoſes of motion, the bat has its legs faſhioned in the ſame manner, and is never ſeen to walk, or, more properly ſpeaking, to puſh itſelf forward with its hind legs, but in caſes of extreme neceſſity. The toes of the fore legs, or, if we may uſe the expreſſion, its extremely long fingers, extend the web like a membrane that lies between them; and this, which is extremely thin, ſerves to lift the little body into the air: in this manner, by an unceaſing percuſſion, much ſwifter than that of birds, the animal continues, and directs its flight; however, the great labour required in flying, ſoon fatigues it; for, unlike birds, which continue for days together upon the wing, the bat is tired in leſs than an hour, and then returns to its hole, ſatisfied with its ſupply, to enjoy the darkneſs of its retreat.

If we conſider the bat as it is ſeen in our own country, we ſhall find it an harmleſs, inoffenſive creature. It is true that it now and then ſteals into a larder, and, like a mouſe, commits its petty thefts upon the fatteſt parts of the bacon. But this happens ſeldom; the general tenor of its induſtry is employed in purſuing inſects that are much more noxious to us than itſelf can poſſibly be; while its evening flight, and its unſteady wabbling motion, amuſe the imagination, and add one figure more to the pleaſing groupe of animated nature.

The varieties of this animal, eſpecially in our country, are but few; and the differences ſcarce worth enumeration. Naturaliſts mention the Long ear'd Bat, much leſs than that generally ſeen, and with much longer ears; the Horſe ſhoe Bat, with an odd protuberance round its upper lip, ſomewhat in the form of an horſe-ſhoe; the Rhinoceros Bat, with an horn growing from the noſe, ſomewhat ſimilar to that animal from whence it has the name. Theſe, with ſeveral others, whoſe varieties are too numerous, and differences too minute for a detail, are all inoffenſive, minute, and contemptible; incapable, from their ſize, of injuring mankind, and not ſufficiently numerous much to incommode him. But there is a larger race of bats, found in the Eaſt and Weſt-Indies, that are truly formidable; each of theſe is ſingly a dangerous enemy; but when they unite in flocks, they then become dreadful. Were the inhabitants of the African coaſts Des Marchais, vol. ii. p. 208. , ſays Des Marchais, to eat animals of the bat kind, as they do in the Eaſt-Indies, they would never want a ſupply of proviſions. They are there in ſuch numbers, that, when they fly, they obſcure the ſetting ſun. In the morning, at peep of day, they are ſeen ſticking upon the tops of the trees, and clinging to each other, like bees when they ſwarm, or like large cluſters of coco. The Europeans often amuſe themſelves with ſhooting among this huge maſs of living creatures, and obſerving their embarraſſment when wounded. They ſometimes enter the houſes, and the Negroes are expert at killing them; but although theſe people ſeem for ever hungry, yet they regard the bat with horror, and will not eat it, though ready to ſtarve.

Of foreign bats, the largeſt we have any certain accounts of, is the Rouſette, or the Great Bat of Madagaſcar. This formidable creature is near four feet broad, when the wings are extended; and a foot long, from the tip of the noſe to the inſertion of the tail. It reſembles our bat in the form of its wings, in its manner of flying, and in its internal conformation. It differs from it in its enormous ſize; in its colour, which is red, like that of a fox; in its head and noſe alſo, which reſemble thoſe of that animal, and which have induced ſome to call it the flying fox: it differs alſo in the number of its teeth; and in having a claw on the fore foot, which is wanting in ours. This formidable creature is found only in the ancient continent; particularly in Madagaſcar, along the coaſts of Africa and Malabar, where it is uſually ſeen about the ſize of a large hen. When they repoſe, they ſtick themſelves to the tops of the talleſt trees, and hang with their heads downward. But when they are in motion, nothing can be more formidable: they are ſeen in clouds, darkening the air, as well by day as by night, deſtroying the ripe fruits of the country, and ſometimes ſettling upon animals, and man himſelf: they devour, indiſcriminately, fruits, fleſh, and inſects, and drink the juice of the palm-tree: they are heard at night in the foreſts at more than two miles diſtance, with an horrible din; but at the approach of day, they uſually begin to retire: nothing is ſafe from

THE gradations of Nature from one claſs of beings to another are made by imperceptible deviations. As we ſaw in the foregoing chapters quadrupedes almoſt degraded into the inſect tribe, or mounted among the inhabitants of the air, we are at preſent to obſerve their approach to fiſhes, to trace the degrees by which they become more unlike terreſtrial animals, till the ſimilitude of the fiſh prevails over that of the quadrupede.

As in oppoſite armies the two bodies are diſtinct and ſeparated from each other, while yet between them are various troops that plunder on both ſides and are friends to neither, ſo between terreſtrial and aquatic animals there are tribes that can ſcarce be referred to any rank, but lead an amphibious life between them. Sometimes in water, ſometimes on land, they ſeem fitted for each element, and yet completely adapted to neither. Wanting the agility of quadrupedes upon land, and the perſeverance of fiſhes in the deep, the variety of their powers only ſeems to diminiſh their force; and, though poſſeſſed of two different methods of living, they are more inconveniently provided than ſuch as have but one.

All quadrupedes of this kind, though covered with hair in the uſual manner, are furniſhed with membranes between the toes, which aſſiſt their motion in the water. Their paws are broad and their legs ſhort, by which they are more completely fitted for ſwimming, for taking ſhort ſtrokes at a time they make them oftner and with greater rapidity. Some, however, of theſe animals are more adapted to live in the water than others; but, as their power encreaſes to live in the deep, their unfitneſs for living upon land encreaſes in the ſame proportion. Some, like the otter, reſemble quadrupedes in every thing except in being in ſome meaſure web-footed; others depart ſtill further, in being, like the beaver, not only web-footed, but having the tail covered with ſcales, like thoſe of a fiſh. Others depart yet farther, as the ſeal and the morſe, by having the hind feet ſtuck to the body like fins; and others, as the lamentin, almoſt entirely reſemble fiſhes, by having no hind feet whatſoever. Such are the gradations of the amphibious tribe. They all, however, get their living in the water, either by habit or conformation; they all continue a long time under water; they all conſider that element as their proper abode; whenever preſt by danger, they fly to the water for ſecurity; and, when upon land, appear watchful, timorous, and unwieldy.

In the firſt ſtep of the progreſſion from land to amphibious animals, we find the Otter, reſembling thoſe of the terreſtrial kind in ſhape, hair, and internal conformation; reſembling the aquatic tribes in its manner of living, and in having membranes between the toes to aſſiſt it in ſwimming. From this peculiar make of its feet, which are very ſhort, it ſwims even faſter than it runs, and can overtake fiſhes in their own element. The colour of this animal is brown; and it is ſomewhat of the ſhape of an overgrown weaſel, being long, ſlender, and ſoft ſkinned. However, if we examine its figure in detail, we ſhall find it unlike any other animal hitherto deſcribed, and of ſuch a ſhape as words can but weakly convey. Its uſual length is about two feet long, from the tip of the noſe to the inſertion of the tail; the head and noſe are broad and flat; the mouth bears ſome ſimilitude to that of a fiſh; the neck is ſhort, and equal in thickneſs to the head; the body long; the tail broad at the inſertion, but tapering off to a point at the end; the eyes are very ſmall, and placed nearer the noſe than uſual in quadrupedes. The legs are very ſhort, but remarkably ſtrong, broad, and muſcular. The joints are articulated ſo looſely, that the animal is capable of turning them quite back, and bringing them on a line with the body, ſo as to perform the office of fins. Each foot is furniſhed with five toes, connected by ſtrong broad webs like thoſe of water fowl. Thus Nature, in every part, has had attention to the life of an animal whoſe food is fiſh, and whoſe haunts muſt neceſſarily be about water.

This voracious animal is never found but at the ſides of lakes and rivers, but particularly the former, for it is ſeldom fond of fiſhing in a running ſtream, for the current of the water having more power upon it than the fiſhes it purſues, if it hunts againſt the ſtream it ſwims too ſlow; and if with the ſtream, it overſhoots its prey. However, when in rivers, it is always obſerved to ſwim againſt the ſtream, and to meet the fiſhes it preys upon rather than to purſue them. In lakes it deſtroys much more than it devours, and is often ſeen to ſpoil a pond in the ſpace of a few nights. But the damage they do by deſtroying fiſh is not ſo great as their tearing in pieces the nets of the fiſhers, which they infallibly do whenever they happen to be entangled. The inſtant they find themſelves caught, they

QUADRUPEDES may be conſidered as a numerous groupe, terminated on every ſide by ſome that but in part deſerve the name. On one quarter we ſee a tribe covered with quills, or furniſhed with wings, that lift them among the inhabitants of air; on another, we behold a diverſity cloathed with ſcales and ſhells, to rank with inſects; and ſtill, on a third, we ſee them deſcending into the waters, to live among the mute tenants of that element. We now come to a numerous tribe, that, leaving the brute creation, ſeem to make approaches even to humanity; that bear an aukward reſemblance of the human form, and diſcover ſome faint efforts at intellectual ſagacity.

Animals of the monkey claſs are furniſhed with hands inſtead of paws; their ears, eyes, eye-lids, lips, and breaſts, are like thoſe of mankind; their internal conformation alſo bears ſome diſtant likeneſs; and the whole offers a picture that may well mortify the pride of ſuch as make their perſons alone the principal object of their admiration.

Theſe approaches, however, are gradual; and ſome bear the marks of this our boaſted form, more ſtrongly than others.

In the Ape kind we ſee the whole external machine ſtrongly impreſſed with the human likeneſs, and capable of the ſame exertions: theſe walk upright, want a tail, have fleſhy poſteriors, have calves to their legs, and feet nearly like ours.

In the Baboon kind we perceive a more diſtant approach to the human form; the quadrupede mixing in every part of the animal's figure: theſe generally go upon all fours; but ſome, when upright, are as tall as a man; they have ſhort tails, long ſnouts, and are poſſeſſed of brutal fierceneſs.

The Monkey kind are removed a ſtep further: theſe are much leſs than the former, with tails as long, or longer than their bodies, and flattiſh faces.

Laſtly, the Maki and Opaſſum kind, ſeem to loſe all reſemblance of the human figure, except in having hands; their noſes are lengthened out, like thoſe of quadrupedes, and every part of their bodies totally different from the human; however, as they graſp their food, or other objects, with one hand, which quadrupedes cannot do, this ſingle ſimilitude gives them an air of ſagacity, to which they have ſcarce any other pretenſions.

From this ſlight ſurvey it may be eaſily ſeen that one general deſcription will not ſerve for animals ſo very different from each other: nevertheleſs, it would be fatiguing to the laſt degree, as their varieties are ſo numerous, and their differences ſo ſmall, to go through a particular deſcription of each. In this caſe it will be beſt to give an hiſtory of the foremoſt in each claſs; at the ſame time marking the diſtinctions in every ſpecies. By this we ſhall avoid a tedious repetition of ſimilar characters, and conſider the manners and the oddities of this phantaſtic tribe in general points of view; where we ſhall perceive how nearly they approach to the human figure, and how little they benefit by the approximation.

The foremoſt of the Ape kind is the Ourang Outang, or Wild Man of the Woods. This name ſeems to have been given to various animals, agreeing in one common character of walking upright, but coming from different countries, and of very different proportions and powers. The Troglodyte of Bontius, the Drill of Purchas, and the Pygmy of Tyſon, have all received this general name; and have been ranked, by ſome naturaliſts, under one general deſcription. If we read the accounts of many remote travellers, under this name we are preſented with a formidable animal, from ſix to eight feet high; if we examine the books of ſuch as have deſcribed it nearer home, we find it a pigmy not above three. In this diverſity we muſt be content to blend their various deſcriptions into one general account; obſerving, at the ſame time, that we have no reaſon to doubt any of their relations, although we are puzzled which to follow.

The Ouran Outang, which, of all other animals, moſt nearly approaches to the human race, is ſeen of different ſizes, from three to ſeven feet high. In general, however, its ſtature is leſs than that of a man; but its ſtrength and agility much greater. Travellers who have ſeen various kinds of theſe animals in their native ſolitudes, give us ſurprizing relations of their force, their ſwiftneſs, their addreſs, and their ferocity. Naturaliſts who have obſerved their form and manners at home, have been as much ſtruck with their patient, pliant, imitative diſpoſitions; with their appearance and conformation, ſo nearly human. Of the ſmalleſt ſort of theſe animals we have had ſeveral, at different times, brought into this country, all nearly alike; but that obſerved by Dr. Tyſon, is the beſt known, having been deſcribed with the greateſt exactneſs.

The animal which was deſcribed by that learned phyſician, was brought from Angola in Africa, where it had been taken in the internal parts of the country, in company with a female of the ſame kind, that died by the way. The body was covered with hair, which was of a coal black colour, more reſembling human hair than that of brutes. It bore a ſtill ſtronger ſimilitude in its different lengths; for in thoſe places where it is longeſt on the human ſpecies, it was alſo longeſt in this; as on the head, the upper lip, the chin, and the pubes. The face was like that of a man, the forehead larger, and the head round. The upper and lower jaw were not ſo prominent as in monkies; but flat, like thoſe of a man. The ears were like thoſe of a man in moſt reſpects; and the teeth had more reſemblance to the human, than thoſe of any other creature. The bending of the arms and legs were juſt the ſame as in a man; and, in ſhort, the animal, at firſt view, preſented a figure entirely human.

In order to diſcover its differences, it was neceſſary to take a cloſer ſurvey; and then the imperfections of its form began to appear. The firſt obvious difference was in the flatneſs of the noſe; the next in the lowneſs of the forehead, and the wanting the prominence of the chin. The ears were proportionably too large; the eyes too cloſe to each other; and the interval between the noſe and mouth too great. The body and limbs differed, in the thighs being too ſhort, and the arms too long; in the thumb being too little, and the palm of the hand too narrow. The feet alſo were rather more like hands than feet; and the animal, if we may judge from the figure, bent too much upon its haunches.

When this creature was examined anatomically, a ſurprizing ſimilitude was ſeen to prevail in its internal conformation. It differed from man in the number of its ribs, having thirteen; whereas, in man, there are but twelve. The vertebrae of the neck alſo were ſhorter, the bones of the pelvis narrower, the orbits of the eyes were deeper, the kidnies were rounder, the urinary and gall bladders were longer and ſmaller, and the ureters of a different figure. Such were the principal diſtinctions between the internal parts of this animal and thoſe of man; in almoſt every thing elſe they were entirely and exactly the ſame, and diſcovered an aſtoniſhing congruity. Indeed, many parts were ſo much alike in conformation, that it might have excited wonder how they were productive of ſuch few advantages. The tongue, and all the organs of the voice, were the ſame, and yet the animal was dumb; the brain was formed in the ſame manner with that of man, and yet the creature wanted reaſon: an evident proof (as Mr. Buffon finely obſerves) that no diſpoſition of matter will give mind; and that the body, how nicely ſoever formed, is formed in vain, when there is not infuſed a ſoul to direct its operations.

Having thus taken a comparative view of this creature with man, what follows may be neceſſary to compleat the general deſcription. This animal was very hairy all behind, from the head downwards; and the hair ſo thick, that it covered the ſkin almoſt from being ſeen: but in all parts before, the hair was much thinner, the ſkin every where appeared; and in ſome places it was almoſt bare. When it went on all fours, as it was ſometimes ſeen to do, it appeared all hairy; when it went erect, it appeared before leſs hairy, and more like a man. Its hair, which in this particular animal was black, much more reſembled that of men than the fur of brutes; for, in the latter, beſides their long hair, there is uſually a finer and ſhorter intermixed; but in the ouran outang it was all of a kind; only about the pubes the hair was greyiſh, ſeemed longer, and ſomewhat different; as alſo on the upper lip and chin, where it was greyiſh, like the hair of a beard. The face, hands, and ſoles of the feet, were without hair; and ſo was moſt part of the forehead: but down the ſides of the face the hair was thick, it being there about an inch and an half long, which exceeded that on any other part of the body. In the palms of its hands were remarkable thoſe lines which are uſually taken notice of in palmiſtry; and, at the tips of the fingers, thoſe ſpiral lines obſerved in man. The palms of the hands were as long as the ſoles of the feet; and the toes upon theſe were as long as the fingers; the middle toe was the longeſt of all, and the whole foot differed from the human. The hinder feet being thus formed as hands, the animal often uſed them as ſuch; and, on the contrary, now and then made uſe of its hands inſtead of feet. The breaſts appeared ſmall and ſhrivelled, but exactly like thoſe of a man: the navel alſo appeared very fair, and in exact diſpoſition, being neither harder nor more prominent than what is uſually ſeen in children. Such is the deſcription of this extraordinary creature; to which little has been added by ſucceeding obſervers, except that the colour of the hair is often found to vary: in that deſcribed by Edwards it was of a reddiſh brown.

From a picture ſo like that of the human ſpecies, we are naturally led to expect a correſponding mind; and it is certain, that ſuch of theſe animals as have been ſhewn in Europe, have diſcovered a degree of imitation beyond what any quadrupede can arrive at.

That of Tyſon was a gentle, fond, harmleis creature. In its paſſage to England, thoſe that it knew on ſhip-board it would embrace with the greateſt tenderneſs, opening their boſoms, and claſping its hands about them. Monkies of a lower ſpecies it held in utter averſion; it would always avoid the place where they were kept in the ſame veſſel; and ſeemed to conſider itſelf as a creature of higher extraction. After it was taken, and a little uſed to wear cloaths, it grew very fond of them; a part it would put on without any help, and the reſt it would carry in its hands to ſome of the company, for their aſſiſtance. It would lie in a bed, place its head on the pillow, and pull the cloaths upwards, as a man would do.

That which was ſeen by Edwards, and deſcribed by Buffon, ſhewed even a ſuperior degree of ſagacity. It walked, like all of its kind, upon two legs, even though it carried burthens. Its air was melancholly, and its deportment grave. Unlike the baboon or monkey, whoſe motions are violent and appetites capricious, who are fond of miſchief and obedient only from fear, this animal was ſlow in in its motions, and a look was ſufficient to keep it in awe. I have ſeen it, ſays Mr. Buffon, give its hand to ſhow the company to the door: I have ſeen it ſit at table, unfold its napkin, wipe its lips, make uſe of the ſpoon and the fork to carry the victuals to its mouth, pour out its drink into a glaſs, touch glaſſes when invited, take a cup and ſaucer and lay them on the table, put in ſugar, pour out its tea, leave it to cool before drinking, and all this without any other inſtigation than the ſigns or the command of its maſter, and often of its own accord. It was gentle and inoffenſive; it even approached ſtrangers with reſpect, and came rather to receive careſſes than to offer injuries. It was particularly fond of ſugared comfits, which every body was ready to give it; and, as it had a defluxion upon the bread, ſo much ſugar contributed to encreaſe the diſorder and ſhorten its life. It continued at Paris but one ſummer, and died in London. It ate indiſcriminately of all things, but it preferred dry and ripe fruits to all other aliments. It would drink wine, but in ſmall quantities, and gladly left it for milk, tea, or any other ſweet liquor.

Such theſe animals appeared when brought into Europe. However, many of their extraordinary habits were probably the reſult of education, and we are not told how, long the inſtructions they received for this purpoſe were continued. But we learn from another account that they take but a very ſhort time to come to a great degree of imitative perfection. Mr. L. Broſſe bought two young ones, that were but a year old, from a Negroe; and theſe at that early age diſcovered an aſtoniſhing power of imitation As quoted by Buffon, vol. xxviii. p. 77. . They even then ſat at the table like men, ate of every thing without diſtinction, made uſe of their knife, ſpoon, and fork, both to eat their meat and help themſelves. They drank wine and other liquors. When carried on ſhipboard, they had ſigns for the cabbin boys expreſſive of their wants; and whenever theſe neglected attending upon them as they deſired, they inſtantly flew into a paſſion, ſeized them by the arm, bit them, and kept them down. The male was ſea-ſick, and required attendance like an human creature; he was even twice bled in the arm; and every time afterwards when he found himſelf out of order, he ſhewed his arm, as deſirous of being relieved by bleeding.

Pyrard relates, that in the province of Sierra Leona, in Africa, there are a kind of apes, called Baris, which are ſtrong and muſcular, and which, if properly inſtructed when young, ſerve as very uſeful domeſtics. They uſually walk upright; they pound at a mortar; they go to the river to fetch water, this they carry back in a little pitcher, on their heads; but if care be not taken to receive the pitcher at their return, they let it fall to the ground, and then, ſeeing it broken, they begin to lament and cry for their loſs. Le Compte's account is much to the ſame purpoſe of an ape, which he ſaw in the Streights of Molucca. "It walked upon its two hind feet, which it bent a little, like a dog that had been taught to dance. It made uſe of its hands and arms as we do. Its viſage was not much more diſagreeable than that of an Hottentot; but the body was all over covered with a woolly hair of different colours. As to the reſt, it cried like a child; all its outward actions were ſo like the human, and the paſſions ſo lively and ſignificant, that dumb men could ſcarce better expreſs their conceptions and deſires. It had alſo that expreſſion of paſſion or joy which we often ſee in children, ſtamping with its feet, and ſtriking them againſt the ground, to ſhew its ſpight, or when refuſed any thing it paſſionately longed for. Although theſe animals," continues he, "are very big, for that I ſaw was four feet high, their nimbleneſs is incredible. It is a pleaſure beyond expreſſion to ſee them run up the tackling of a ſhip, where they ſometimes play as if they had a knack of vaulting peculiar to themſelves, or as if they had been paid, like our rope-dancers, to divert the company. Sometimes, ſuſpended by one arm, they poize themſelves, and then turn all of a ſudden round about a rope, with as much quickneſs as a wheel, or a ſling put into motion. Sometimes holding the rope ſucceſſively with their long fingers, and, letting their whole body fall into the air, they run full ſpeed from one end to the other, and come back again with the ſame ſwiftneſs. There is no poſture but they imitate, nor motion but they perform. Bending themſelves like a bow, rolling like a bowl, hanging by the hands, feet, and teeth, according to the different fancies with which their capricious imagination ſupplies them. But what is ſtill more amazing than all is, their agility to fling themſelves from one rope to another, though at thirty, forty, and fifty feet diſtance."

Such are the habitudes and the powers of the ſmaller claſs of theſe extraordinary creatures; but we are preſented with a very different picture in thoſe of a larger ſtature and more muſcular form. The little animals we have been deſcribing, which are ſeldom found above four feet high, ſeem to partake of the nature of dwarfs among the human ſpecies, being gentle, aſſiduous, and playful, rather fitted to amuſe than terrify. But the gigantic races of the Ourang Outang, ſeen and deſcribed by travellers, are truly formidable; and in the gloomy foreſts, where they are only found, ſeem to hold undiſputed dominion. Many of theſe are as tall or taller than a man; active, ſtrong and intrepid, cunning, laſcivious and cruel. This redoubtable rival of mankind is found in many parts of Africa, in the Eaſt-Indies, in Madagaſcar, and in Borneo Le Compte's Hiſtory of China. . In the laſt of theſe places, the people of quality courſe him as we do the ſtag; and this ſort of hunting is one of the favourite amuſements of the king himſelf. This creature is extremely ſwift of foot, endowed with extraordinary ſtrength, and runs with prodigious celerity. His ſkin is all hairy, his eyes ſunk in his head, his countenance ſtern, his face tanned, and all his lineaments, though exactly human, harſh and blackened by the ſun. In Africa this creature is even ſtill more formidable. Battel calls him the Pongo, and aſſures us that in all his proportions he reſembles a man, except that he is much larger, even to a gigantic ſtate. His face reſembles that of a man, the eyes deep ſunk in the head, the hair on each ſide extremely long, the viſage naked and without hair, as alſo the ears and the hands. The body is lightly covered, and ſcarcely differing from that of a man, except that there are no calves to the legs. Still, however, the animal is ſeen to walk upon his hinder legs, and in an erect poſture. He ſleeps under trees, and builds himſelf an hut, which ſerves to protect him againſt the ſun and the rains of the tropical climates, of which he is a native. He lives only upon fruits, and is no way carnivorous. He cannot ſpeak, although furniſhed with greater inſtinct than any other animal of the brute creation. When the Negroes make a fire in the woods, this animal comes near and warms himſelf by the blaze. However, he has not ſkill enough to keep the flame alive by feeding it with fuel. They go together in companies; and if they happen to meet one of the human ſpecies, remote from ſuccour, they ſhew him no mercy. They even attack the elephant, which they beat with their clubs, and oblige to leave that part of the foreſt which they claim as their own. It is impoſſible to take any of theſe dreadful creatures alive, for they are ſo ſtrong that ten men would not be a match for but one of them. None of this kind, therefore, are taken except when very young, and theſe but rarely, when the female happens to leave them behind, for in general they keep clung to the breaſt, and adhere both with legs and arms. From the ſame traveller we learn, that when one of theſe animals dies, the reſt cover the body with a quantity of leaves and branches. They ſometimes alſo ſhew mercy to the human kind. A Negroe boy, that was taken by one of theſe, and carried into the woods, continued there a whole year, without receiving any injury Le Broſſe, as quoted by Buffon, vol. xxviii. p. 70. . From another traveller we learn, that theſe animals often attempt to ſurprize the female Negroes as they go into the woods, and frequently keep them againſt their wills for the pleaſure of their company, feeding them very plentifully all the time. He aſſures us that he knew a woman of Loango that had lived among theſe animals for three years. They grow from ſix to ſeven feet high, and are of unequalled ſtrength. They build ſheds, and make uſe of clubs for their defence. Their faces are broad, their noſes flat, their ears without a tip, their ſkins are more bright than that of a Mullatoe, and they are covered on many parts of the body with long and tawny coloured hair. Their belly is large, their heels flat, and yet riſing behind. They ſometimes walk upright, and ſometimes upon all fours, when they are phantaſtically diſpoſed.

From this deſcription of the Ouran Outang, we perceive at what a diſtance the firſt animal of the brute creation is placed from the very loweſt of the human ſpecies. Even in countries peopled with ſavages, this creature is conſidered as a beaſt; and in thoſe very places where we might ſuppoſe the ſmalleſt difference between them and mankind, the inhabitants hold it in the greateſt contempt and deteſtation. In Borneo, where this animal has been ſaid to come to its greateſt perfection, the natives hunt it in the ſame manner as they purſue the elephant or the lion, while its reſemblance to the human form procures it neither pity nor protection. The gradations of Nature in the other parts of nature are minute and inſenſible; in the paſſage from quadrupedes to fiſhes we can ſcarce tell where the quadrupede ends and the fiſh begins; in the deſcent from beaſts to inſects we can hardly diſtinguiſh the ſteps of the progreſſion; but in the aſcent from brutes to man, the line is ſtrongly drawn, well marked, and unpaſſable. It is in vain that the Ouran Outang reſembles man in form, or imitates many of his actions; he ſtill continues a wretched, helpleſs creature, pent up in the moſt gloomy part of the foreſt, and, with regard to the proviſion for his own happineſs, inferior even to the elephant or the beaver in ſagacity. To us, indeed, this animal ſeems much wiſer than it really is. As we have long been uſed to meaſure the ſagacity of all actions by their ſimilitude to our own, and not their fitneſs to the animal's way of living, we are pleaſed with the imitations of the ape, even though we know they are far from contributing to the convenience of its ſituation. An ape, or a quadrupede, when under the tramels of human education, may be an admirable object for human curioſity, but is very little advanced by all its learning in the road to its own felicity. On the contrary, I have never ſeen any of theſe long inſtructed animals that did not, by their melancholly air, appear ſenſible of the wretchedneſs of their ſituation. Its marks of ſeeming ſagacity were merely relative to us and not to the animal; and all its boaſted wiſdom was merely of our own making.

There is, in fact, another circumſtance relative to this animal which ought not to be

HAVING gone through the deſcription of thoſe quadrupedes that, by reſembling each other in ſome ſtriking particular, admit of being grouped together and conſidered under one point of view, we now come to thoſe inſulated ſorts that bear no ſimilitude with the reſt, and that to be diſtinctly deſcribed muſt be ſeparately conſidered.

The foremoſt of theſe, and in every reſpect the nobleſt quadrupede in nature, is the elephant, not leſs remarkable for its ſize than its docility and underſtanding. All hiſtorians concur in giving it the character of the moſt ſagacious animal next to man; and yet, were we to take our idea of its capacity from its outward appearance, we ſhould be led to conceive very meanly of its abilities. The elephant, at firſt view, preſents the ſpectator with an enormous maſs of fleſh that ſeems ſcarcely animated. Its huge body, covered with a callous hide, without hair; its large miſ-ſhapen legs, that ſeem ſcarcely formed for motion; its little eyes, large ears, and long trunk; all give it an air of extreme ſtupidity. But our prejudices will ſoon

NEXT to the elephant, the Rhinoceros is the moſt powerful of animals. It is uſually found twelve feet long, from the tip of the noſe to the inſertion of the tail; from ſix to ſeven feet high; and the circumference of its body is nearly equal to its length. It is, therefore, equal to the elephant in bulk; and if it appears much ſmaller to the eye, the reaſon is, that its legs are much ſhorter. Words can convey but a very confuſed idea of this animal's ſhape; and yet there are few ſo remarkably formed: its head is furniſhed with an horn, growing from the ſnout, ſometimes three feet and an half long; and but for this, that part would have the appearance of the head of an hog; the upper lip, however, is much longer in proportion, ends in a point, is very pliable, ſerves to collect its food, and deliver it into the mouth: the ears are large, erect, and pointed; the eyes are ſmall and piercing; the ſkin is naked, rough, knotty, and, lying upon the body in folds, after a very peculiar faſhion: there are two folds very remarkable; one above 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 the ſhoulders, and another over the rump: the ſkin, which is of a dirty brown colour, is ſo thick as to turn the edge of a ſcymitar, and to reſiſt a muſquet-ball: the belly hangs low; the legs are ſhort, ſtrong and thick, and the hoofs divided into three parts, each pointing forward.

Such is the general outline of an animal that appears chiefly formidable from the horn growing from its ſnout; and formed rather for war, than with a propenſity to engage. This horn, is ſometimes found from three to three feet and an half long, growing from the ſolid bone, and ſo diſpoſed, as to be managed to the greateſt advantage. It is compoſed of the moſt ſolid ſubſtance; and pointed ſo as to inflict the moſt fatal wounds. The elephant, the boar, or the buffalo, are obliged to ſtrike tranſverſely with their weapons; but the rhinoceros employs all his force with every blow; ſo that the tiger will more willingly attack any other animal of the foreſt, than one whoſe ſtrength is ſo juſtly employed. Indeed, there is no force which this terrible animal has to apprehend: defended, on every ſide, by a thick horny hide, which the claws of the lion or the tiger are unable to pierce, and armed before with a weapon that even the elephant does not chuſe to oppoſe. The miſſioners aſſure us, that the elephant is often found dead in the foreſts, pierced with the horn of a rhinoceros; and though it looks like wiſdom to doubt whatever they tell us, yet I cannot help giving credit to what they relate on this occaſion, particularly when confirmed by Pliny. The combat between theſe two, the moſt formidable animals of the foreſt, muſt be very dreadful. Emanuel, king of Portugal, willing to try their ſtrength, actually oppoſed them to each other; and the elephant was defeated.

But though the rhinoceros is thus formidable by nature, yet imagination has not failed to exert itſelf, in adding to its terrors. The ſcent is ſaid to be moſt exquiſite; and it is affirmed, that it conſorts with the tiger. It is reported alſo, that when it has overturned a man, or any other animal, it continues to lick the fleſh quite from the bone with its tongue, which is ſaid to be extremely rough. All this, however, is fabulous: the ſcent, if we may judge from the expanſion of the olfactory nerves, is not greater than that of an hog, which we know to be indifferent; it keeps company with the tiger, only becauſe they both frequent watery places in the burning climates where they are bred; and as to its rough tongue, that is ſo far from the truth, that no animal of near its ſize has ſo ſoft a one. "I have often felt it myſelf," ſays Ladvocat, in his deſcription of this animal; "it is ſmooth, ſoft, and ſmall, like that of a dog; and to the feel it appears as if one paſſed the hand over velvet. I have often ſeen it lick a young man's face who kept it; and both ſeemed pleaſed with the action."

The rhinoceros which was ſhewn at London in 1739, and deſcribed by Doctor Parſons, had been ſent from Bengal. Though it was very young, not being above two years old, yet the charge of his carriage and food from India, coſt near a thouſand pounds. It was fed with rice, ſugar, and hay: it was daily ſupplied with ſeven pounds of rice, mixed with three of ſugar, divided into three, portions; it was given great quantities of hay and graſs, which it chiefly preferred; its drink was water, which it took in great quantities. It was of a gentle diſpoſition, and permitted itſelf to be touched and handled by all viſitors, never attempting miſchief, except when abuſed, or when hungry; in ſuch a caſe, there was no method of appeaſing its fury, but by giving it ſomething to eat. When angry, it would jump up againſt the walls of its room, with great violence; and, many efforts to eſcape, but ſeldom attempted to attack its keeper, and was always ſubmiſſive to his threats. It had a peculiar cry, ſomewhat a mixture between the grunting of a hog, and the bellowing of a calf.

The age of theſe animals is not well known; it is ſaid by ſome, that they bring forth at three years old, and if we may reaſon from analogy, it is probable they ſeldom live till above twenty. That which was ſhewn in London, was ſaid by its keeper, to be eighteen years old, and even at that age, he pretended to conſider it as a young one; however, it died ſhortly after, and that probably in the courſe of nature.

The Rhinoceros is a native of the deſarts of Aſia and Africa, and is uſually found in thoſe extenſive foreſts, that are frequented by the elephant and the lion. As it ſubſiſts entirely upon vegetable food, it is peaceful and harmleſs among its fellows of the brute creation; but, though it never provokes to combat, it equally diſdains to fly. It is every way fitted for war, but reſts content in the conſciouſneſs of its ſecurity. It is particularly fond of the prickly branches of trees, and is ſeen to feed upon ſuch thorny ſhrubs as would be dangerous to other animals, either to gather, or to ſwallow. The prickly points of theſe, however, may only ſerve to give a poignant reliſh to this animal's palate, and may anſwer the ſame grateful ends in ſeaſoning its banquet, that ſpices do in heightening ours.

In ſome parts of the kingdom of Aſia, where the natives are more deſirous of appearing warlike than ſhewing themſelves brave, theſe animals are tamed, and led into the field to ſtrike terror into the enemy; but they are always an unmanageable and reſtive animal, and probably more dangerous to the employers, than thoſe whom they are brought to oppoſe.

The method of taking them, is chiefly watching them, till they are found either in ſome moiſt or marſhy place, where, like hogs, they are fond of ſleeping and wallowing. They then deſtroy the old one with fire-arms, for no weapons, that are thrown by the force of man, are capable of entering this animal's hide. If, when the old one is deſtroyed, there happens to be a cub, they ſeize and tame it: theſe animals are ſometimes taken in pit-falls, covered with green branches, laid in thoſe paths which the Rhinoceros makes in going from the foreſt to the river ſide.

There are ſome varieties in this animal, as in moſt others; ſome of them are found in Africa with a double horn, one growing above the other; this weapon, if conſidered in itſelf, is one of the ſtrongeſt, and moſt dangerous, that nature furniſhes to any part of the animal creation. The horn is entirely ſolid, formed of the hardeſt bony ſubſtance, growing from the upper maxilary bone, by ſo ſtrong an apophyſe, as ſeemingly to make but one part with it. Many are the medicinal virtues that are aſcribed to this horn, when taken in powder, but theſe qualities have been attributed to it, without any real foundation, and make only a ſmall part of the many fables which this extraordinary animal has given riſe to.

THE hippopotamos is an animal as large, and not leſs formidable than the Rhinoceros; its legs are ſhorter, and its head rather more bulky than that of the animal laſt deſcribed. We have had but few opportunities in Europe of examining this formidable creature minutely, its dimenſions, however, have been pretty well aſcertained, by a deſcription given us by Zerenghi, an Italian ſurgeon, who procured one of them to be killed on the banks of the river Nile. By his account it appears, that this terrible animal, which chiefly reſides in the waters of that river, is above ſeventeen feet long, from the extremity of the ſnout, to the inſertion of the tail; above ſixteen feet in circumference round the body, and above ſeven feet high: the head is near four feet long, and above nine feet in circumference. The jaws open about two feet wide, and the cutting teeth, of which it hath four in each jaw, are above a foot long.

Its feet, in ſome meaſure, reſemble thoſe of the elephant, and are divided into four parts. The tail is ſhort, flat, and pointed; the hide is amazingly thick, and though not capable of turning a muſket ball, is impenetrable to the blow of a ſabre; the body is covered over with a ſew ſcattered hairs, of a whitiſh colour. The whole figure of the animal is ſomething between that of an ox and a hog, and its cry is ſomething between the bellowing of the one, and the grunting of the other.

This animal, however, though ſo terribly furniſhed for war, ſeems no way diſpoſed to make uſe of it's prodigious ſtrength againſt an equal enemy; itchiefly reſides at the bottom of the great rivers and lakes of Africa; the Nile, the Niger, and the Zara; there it leads an indolent kind of life, and ſeems ſeldom diſpoſed for action, except when excited by the calls of hunger. Upon ſuch occaſions, three or four of them are often ſeen at the bottom of a river, near ſome cataract, forming a kind of line, and ſeizing upon ſuch fiſh as are forced down by the violence of the ſtream. In that element they purſue their prey with great ſwiftneſs and perſeverance; they ſwim with much force, and remain at the bottom for thirty or forty minutes without riſing to take breath. They traverſe the the bottom of the ſtream, as if walking upon land, and make a terrible devaſtation where they find plenty of prey. But it often happens, that this animal's fiſhy food is not ſupplied in ſufficient abundance, it is then forced to come upon land, where it is an awkward and unweildy ſtranger; it moves but ſlowly, and, as it ſeldom forſakes the margin of the river, it ſinks at every ſtep it takes; ſometimes, however, it is forced, by famine, up into the higher grounds, where it commits dreadful havock among the plantations of the helpleſs natives, who ſee their poſſeſſions deſtroyed, without daring to reſiſt their invader. Their chief method is, by lighting fires, ſtriking drums, and raiſing a cry to frighten it back to its favourite element; and, as it is extremely timorous upon land, they generally ſucceed in their endeavours. But if they happen to wound, or otherways irritate it too cloſely, it then becomes formidable to all that oppoſe it: it overturns whatever it meets, and brings forth all its ſtrength, which it ſeemed not to have diſcovered before that dangerous occaſion. It poſſeſſes the ſame inoffenſive diſpoſition in its favourite element, that it is found to have upon land; it is never found to attack the mariners in their boats, as they go up or down the ſtream; but ſhould they inadvertently ſtrike againſt it, or otherwiſe diſturb its repoſe, there is much danger of its ſending them, at once, to the bottom. "I have ſeen, ſays a mariner, as we find it in Dampier, one of theſe animals open its jaws, and ſeizing any boat between his teeth, at once, bite and ſink it to the bottom. I have ſeen it upon another occaſion, place itſelf under one of our boats, and riſing under it, overſet it with ſix men which were in it; who, however, happily received no other injury." Such is the great ſtrength of this animal; and from hence, probably, the imagination has been willing to match it in combat againſt others more fierce and equally formidable. The crocodile and ſhark have been ſaid to engage with it, and yield an eaſy victory; but as the ſhark is only found at ſea, and the hippopotomos never ventures beyond the mouth of freſh-water rivers, it is moſt probable that theſe engagements never occurred; it ſometimes happens, indeed, that the princes of Africa amuſe themſelves with combats, on their freſh-water lakes, between this and other formidable animals; but whether the rhinoceros or the crocodile are of this number, we have not been particularly informed. If this animal be attacked at land, and finding itſelf incapable of vengeance from the ſwiftneſs of its enemy, it immediately returns to the river, where it plunges in head foremoſt, and after a ſhort time riſes to the ſurface, loudly bellowing, either to invite or intimidate the enemy; but though the negroes will venture to attack the ſhark, or the crocodile, in their natural element, and there deſtroy them, they are too well appriſed of the force of the hippopotamos to engage it; this animal, therefore, continues the uncontrouled maſter of the river, and all others fly from its approach and become an eaſy prey.

As the hippopotomos lives upon fiſh and vegetables, ſo it is probable the fleſh of terreſtrial animals may be equally grateful: the natives of Africa aſſert, that it has often been found to devour children and other creatures that it was able to ſurpriſe upon land; yet it moves but ſlowly, almoſt every creature, endued with a common ſhare of ſwiftneſs, is able to eſcape it; and this animal, therefore, ſeldom ventures from the river ſide, but when preſſed by the neceſſities of hunger, or of bringing forth its young.

The female always comes upon land to bring forth, and it is ſuppoſed that ſhe ſeldom produces above one at a time; upon this occaſion, theſe animals are particularly timorous, and dread the approach of a terreſtrial enemy; the inſtant the parent hears the ſlighteſt noiſe, it daſhes into the ſtream, and the young one is ſeen to follow it with equal alacrity.

The young ones are ſaid to be excellent eating; but the negroes, to whom nothing that has life comes amiſs, find an equal delicacy in the old. Dr. Pocock has ſeen their fleſh ſold in the ſhambles, like beef; and it is ſaid, that their breaſt, in particular, is as delicate eating as veal. As for the reſt, theſe animals are found in great numbers, and as they produce very faſt, their fleſh, might ſupply the countries where they are found, could thoſe barbarous regions produce more expert huntſmen; it may be remarked, however, that this creature, which was once in ſuch plenty at the mouth of the Nile, is now wholly unknown in Lower Egypt, and is no where to be found in that river, except above the cataracts.

WERE we to be told of an animal ſo tall, that a man on horſeback could with eaſe ride under its belly, without ſtooping, we ſhould hardly give credit to the relation; yet, of this extraordinary ſize is the camelopard, an animal that inhabits the Deſarts of Africa, and the accounts of which are ſo well aſcertained, that we cannot deny our aſſent to their authority. It is no eaſy matter to form an adequate idea of this creature's ſize, and the oddity of its formation. It exhibits ſomewhat the ſlender ſhape of the deer, or the camel, but deſtitute of their ſymmetry, or their eaſy power of motion The head ſomewhat reſembles that of the deer, with two round horns, near a footlong, and which it is probable, it ſheds as deer are found to do; its neck reſembles that of a horſe; its legs and feet, thoſe of the deer; but with this extraordinary difference, that the fore legs are near twice as long as the hinder. As theſe creatures

THESE names do not make two diſtinct kinds, but are only given to a variety of the ſame animal, which has, however, ſubſiſted time immemorial. The principal, and perhaps the only ſenſible difference, by which thoſe two races are diſtinguiſhed, conſiſts in this, that the camel has two bunches upon his back, whereas the dromedary has but one; the latter alſo, is neither ſo large, nor ſo ſtrong, as the camel. Theſe two races, however, produce with each other, and the mixed breed formed between them is conſidered the beſt, the moſt patient, and the moſt indefatigable of all the kind.

Of the two varieties, the dromedary is, by far the moſt numerous; the camel being ſcarcely found, except in Turkey, and the countries of the Levant, while the other is found ſpread over all the Deſarts of Arabia, the ſouthern parts of Africa, Perſia, Tartary, and a great part of the eaſtern Indies. Thus, the one inhabits an immenſe tract of country, the other,

AS almoſt all the quadrupedes of America are ſmaller than the reſembling ones of the ancient continent, ſo the lama, which may be conſidered as the camel of the new world, is every way leſs than that of the old. This animal, like that deſcribed in the former chapter, ſtands high upon its legs, has a long neck, a ſmall head, and reſembles the camel, not only in its natural mildneſs, but its aptitude for ſervitude, its moderation, and its patience. The Americans early found out its uſeful qualities, and availed themſelves of its labours: like the camel, it ſerves to carry goods over places inacceſſible to other beaſts of burthen; like that it is obedient to its driver, and often dies under, but never reſiſts his cruelty.

Of theſe animals, ſome are white, others black, but they are moſtly brown; its face reſembles that of the camel, and its height is about equal to that of an aſs. They are not found in the ancient continent, but entirely belong to the new; nor are they found ſpread over all America, but are found chiefly upon thoſe mountains, that ſtretch from New Spain to the Streights of Magellan. They inhabit the higheſt regions of the globe, and ſeem to require purer air than animals of a lower ſituation are found to enjoy. Peru ſeems to be the place where they are found in greateſt plenty. In Mexico, they are introduced rather as curioſities than beaſts of burthen; but in Potoſi, and other provinces of Peru, they make the chief riches of the Indians and Spaniards who rear them: their fleſh is excellent food; their hair or rather wool, may be ſpun into beautiful cloathing, and they are capable, in the moſt rugged and dangerous ways, of carrying burthens not exceeding a hundred weight, with the greateſt ſafety. It is true indeed that they go but ſlowly, and ſeldom above fifteen miles a day; their tread is heavy, but ſure, they deſcend precipices, and find footing among the moſt craggy rocks where even men can ſcarce accompany them; they are, however, but feeble animals, and after four or five days labour, they are obliged to repoſe for a day or two. They are chiefly uſed in carrying the riches of the mines of Potoſi, and we are told that there are above three hundred thouſand of theſe animals in actual employ.

This animal, as was ſaid before, is above three feet high, and the neck is three feet long, the head is ſmall and well proportioned, the eyes large, the noſe long, the lips thick, the upper divided, and the lower a little depending, like all thoſe animals that feed upon graſs, it wants the upper cutting teeth; the ears are four inches long, and move with great agility; the tail is but five inches long, it is ſmall, ſtrait, and a little turned up at the end; it is cloven footed, like the ox, but it has a kind of ſpearlike appendage behind, which aſſiſts it in moving over precipices and rugged ways; the wool on the back is ſhort, but long on the ſides and the belly; it reſembles the camel in the formation of the genital parts in the male, ſo that it makes urine backwards; it couples alſo in the ſame manner, and though it finds much difficulty in the action, it is ſaid to be much inclined to venery. A whole day is often paſſed, before this neceſſary buſineſs can be compleated, which is ſpent in growling, quarrelling, and ſpitting at each other; they ſeldom produce above one at a time, and their age never extends above ten or twelve years at fartheſt.

Though the lama is no way comparable to the camel, either for ſize, ſtrength, or perſeverance, yet the Americans find a ſubſtitute in it, with which they ſeem perfectly contented. It appears formed for that indolent race of maſters, which it is obliged to ſerve; it requires no care, nor no expence in the attending or providing for its ſuſtenance; it is ſupplied with a warm covering, and therefore does not require to be houſed; ſatisfied with vegetables and graſs, it wants neither corn nor hay to ſubſiſt it; it is not leſs moderate in what it drinks, and exceeds even the camel in temperance. Indeed, of all other creatures, it ſeems to require water leaſt, as it is ſupplied by nature with ſaliva in ſuch large quantities, that it ſpits it out on every occaſion: this ſaliva ſeems to be the only offenſive weapon that the harmleſs creature has to teſtify its reſentment. When overloaded, or fatigued, and driven on by all the torturing acts of its keeper, it falls on its belly, and pours out againſt him, a quantity of this fluid; which, though probably no way hurtful, the Indians are much afraid of They ſay, that wherever it falls, it is of ſuch an acrimonious nature, that it will either burn the ſkin, or cauſe very dangerous eruptions.

Such are theſe animals in their domeſtic ſtate; but as they are found wild in very great numbers, they exhibit marks of great force and agility, in their ſtate of nature. The ſtag is ſcarcely more ſwift, or the goat, or the ſhamoy a better climber. All its ſhapes are more delicate and ſtrong; its colour is tawney, and its wool is but ſhort; in their native forreſts, they are gregarious animals, and are often ſeen in flocks of two or three hundred at a time. When they perceive a ſtranger, they regard him at firſt with aſtoniſhment, without marking any fear or ſurprize; but ſhortly, as if by common conſent, they ſnuff up the air, ſomewhat like horſes, and at once, by a common flight take refuge on the tops of the mountains; they are fonder of the northern than the ſouthern ſide of the Andes; they often climb above the ſnowy tracts of the mountain, and ſeem vigorous in proportion to the coldneſs of their ſituation. The natives hunt the wild lama for the ſake of its fleece. If the dogs ſurprize one upon the plain, they are generally ſucceſsful; but if once the lama obtains the rocky precipice of the mountain, the hunters are obliged to deſiſt in their purſuit.

The lama ſeems to be the largeſt of the camel kind in America; there are others, which are called guanacoes and pacos, that are ſmaller and weaker, but endued with the ſame nature, and formed pretty much in the ſame manner. They ſeem to bear the ſame proportions to each other, that the horſe does to the aſs, and are employed with the ſame degree of ſubordination. The wool, however, of the paco, ſeems to be the moſt valuable, and it is formed into ſtuffs, not inferiour to ſilk, either in price or beauty. The natural colour of the paco, is that of a dried roſe leaf; the manufacturers ſeldom give its wool any other dye, but form it into quilts and carpets, which exceed thoſe from the Levant. This manufacture forms a very conſiderable branch of commerce in South America, and probably too, might be extended to Europe, were the beauty, and the durability of what is thus wrought up ſufficiently known.

THIS animal, the name of which is pronounced nylgaw is a native of India, and has but lately been imported into Europe; it ſeems to be of a middle nature, between the cow and the deer, and carries the appearance of both in its form. In ſize, it is as much ſmaller than the one, as it is larger than the other; its body, horns, and tail, are not unlike thoſe of a bull; and the head, neck, and legs, are very like thoſe of a deer. The colour, in general, is aſh or grey, from a mixture of black hairs and white; all along the ridge or edge of the neck, the hair is blacker, larger, and more erect, making a ſhort thin and upright mane. Its horns are ſeven inches long, they are ſix inches round at the root, growing ſmaller by degrees, they terminate in a blunt point. The bluntneſs of theſe, together with the form of its head and neck, might incline us to ſuppoſe it was of the deer kind; but, as it never ſheds its horns, it has a greater affinity to the cow.

From the diſpoſition of that brought over to this country, which has been very accurately and minutely deſcribed by Dr. Hunter, their manners were harmleſs and gentle. Although in its native wildneſs, it is ſaid to be fierce and vicious, this ſeemed pleaſed with every kind of familiarity, and always licked the hand that ſtroked, or gave it bread, and never once attempted to uſe its horns offenſively; it ſeemed to have much dependance on its organs of ſmell, and ſnuffed keenly, and with noiſe, whenever any perſon came within ſight; it did ſo likewiſe, when any food or drink was brought to it; and was ſo eaſily offended with ſmells, or ſo cautious, that it would not taſte the bread which was offered, when the hand happened to ſmell ſtrong of turpentine. Its manner of fighting is very particular. It was obſerved, at Lord Clive's, where two males were put into a little incloſure, that, while they were at a conſiderable diſtance from each other, they prepared for the attack, by falling upon their fore-knees, then they ſhuffled towards each other, with a quick pace, keeping ſtill upon their fore-knees; and when they were come within ſome yards, they made a ſpring and darted againſt each other. The intrepidity and force with which they dart againſt any object, appeared by the ſtrength with which one of them attempted to over-turn a poor labourer who unthinkingly ſtood on the outſide of the pales of its incloſure. The Nyl ghau, with the quickneſs of lightning, darted againſt the wood-work with ſuch violence, that he broke it to pieces, and broke off one of his horns cloſe to the root, which occaſioned the animal's death. At all the places in India where we have ſettlements, they are conſidered as rarities, and brought from the diſtant interiour parts of the country. The Emperor, ſometimes, kills them in ſuch numbers, as to diſtribute quarters of them to all his omrahs; which ſhews that they are internally wild and in plenty, and eſteemed good or dilicious food. The nyl-ghaus, which have been brought to England, have been moſt, if not all of them, received from Surat or Bombay; and they ſeem to be leſs uncommon in that part of India, than in Bengal; which gives room for a conjecture, that they may be indigenous, perhaps in the province of Guzarat, one of the moſt weſtern and the moſt conſiderable of the Hindoſtan empire, lying to the northward of Surat, and ſtretching away to the Indian ocean.

OF the bear, there are three different kinds, the brown bear of the Alps, the black bear of North-America, which is ſmaller, and the great Greenland, or white bear. Theſe, tho' different in their form, are no doubt of the ſame original, and owe their chief variations to food and climate. They have all the ſame habitudes, being equally carnivorous, treacherous and cruel. It has been ſaid indeed, that the black bear of America, rejects animal food, but of the contrary I am certain, as I have often ſeen the young ones, which are brought over to London, prefer fleſh to every kind of vegetable aliment.

The brown bear, is properly an inhabitant of the temperate climates; the black finds ſubſiſtance in the northern regions of Europe and America, while the great white bear takes refuge in the moſt icy climates, and lives where ſcarce any other animal can find ſubſiſtence.

THE badgers legs are ſo ſhort, that its belly ſeems to touch the ground; this however is but a deceitful appearance, as it is cauſed by the length of the hair, which is very long all over the body, and makes it ſeem much more bulky that it really is. It is a ſolitary ſtupid animal, that finds refuge, remote from man, and digs itſelf a deep hole, with great aſſiduity. It ſeems to avoid the light, and ſeldom quits its retreat by day, only ſtealing out at night to find ſubſiſtence. It burrows in the ground very eaſy, its legs being ſhort and ſtrong, and its claws, ſtiff and horny. As it continues to bury itſelf, and throw the earth behind it, to a great diſtance, and thus forms to itſelf a winding hole, at the bottom of which it remains in ſafety. As the fox is not ſo expert at digging into the earth, it often takes poſſeſſion of that which has been quitted by the badger, and ſome ſay, forces it from its retreat, by laying its excrements at the mouth of the badger's hole.

THERE ſeems to be a rude, but inferiour reſemblance between many animals of the old and the new world. The congar of America, reſembles the tiger in natural ferocity, tho' far inferior in its dimenſions. The lama bears ſome affinity to the camel, but is far behind it in ſtrength and utility. The tapir may be conſidered as the hippopotamos of the New Continent, but, degraded both as to its ſize and ferocity.

This animal bears ſome diſtant reſemblance in its form to a mule. It has a long ſnout, which it lengthens or contracts at pleaſure. Its ears are ſmall, long, and pendant. Its neck and tail are ſhort, and its claws ſtrong and firm, of which it has four upon each foot. Its ſkin is thick, and covered with brown hair, and the natives make ſhields of it, which cannot be pierced by an arrow.

This animal may in ſome meaſure be termed amphibious, as it chiefly reſides in the water. 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 It differs however from all others of this kind, in feeding entirely upon vegetables, and not making this element the place of its depredations. It feeds upon the paſtures by the riverſide, and as it is very timorous, the inſtant it hears the leaſt noiſe, it plunges into the ſtream. They are greatly ſought after by the natives, as their fleſh is conſidered as a delicacy, and thought by ſome not inferior to beef,

THE racoon, which ſome authors have called the Jamaica rat, is about the ſize of a ſmall badger; its body is ſhort and bulky; its fur is fine, long and thick, blackiſh at the ſurface, and grey towards the bottom; the noſe is rather ſhorter, and more pointed than that of a fox; the eyes large and yellow, the teeth reſembling thoſe of a dog, the tail thick, but tapering towards a point, regularly marked with rings of black, and at leaſt as long as the body; the fore-feet are much ſhorter than the hinder, both armed with five ſharp claws, with which, and his teeth, the animal makes a vigorous reſiſtance. Like the ſquirrel, it makes uſe of its paws to hold its food while eating, but it differs from the monkey-kind, which uſe only but one hand on thoſe occaſions, whereas the racoon and the ſquirrel, uſe both; as wanting the thumb, their paws ſingly are unfit for graſping or holding; tho' this animal be ſhort and bulky, it is however very active; its 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 pointed claws, enable it to climb trees with great facility; it runs on the trunk with the ſame ſwiftneſs that it moves upon the plain, and ſports among the moſt extreme branches with great agility, ſecurity and eaſe; it moves forward chiefly by bounding, and tho' it proceeds in an oblique direction, it has ſpeed enough moſt frequently to eſcape its purſuers.

This animal is a native of the ſouthern parts of America, nor have any travellers mentioned its being found in the Ancient Continent. But in the climates of which it is a native; it is found in noxious abundance, particularly in Jamaica, where it keeps in the mountains, and where it often deſcends to feed upon the plantations of ſugar-cane. The planters of theſe climates, conſider theſe animals as one of their greateſt miſeries; they have contrived various methods of deſtroying them, yet ſtill they propagate in ſuch numbers, that neither traps nor fire-arms can ſet them free; ſo that a ſwarm of theſe famiſhed creatures are found to do more injury in a ſingle night, than the labours of a month can repair.

But tho', when wild they are thus troubleſome, in a ſtate of tameneſs no animal is more harmleſs or amuſing; they are capable of being inſtructed in various little amuſing tricks. The racoon is playful and cleanly, and is very eaſily ſupported; it eats of every thing that's given it, and if left to itſelf, no cat can be a better provider; it examines every corner, eats of all fleſh, either boiled or raw, eggs, fruits or corn, inſects themſelves cannot eſcape it, and if left at liberty in a garden, it will feed upon ſnails, worms and beetles; but it has a particular fondneſs for ſweets of every kind, and to be poſſeſt of theſe in its wild ſtate, it incurs every danger. Though it will eat its proviſions dry, it will for choice dip them in water if it happens to be in the way; it has one particularity which few other animals have been found to poſſeſs, it drinks as well by lapping, like the dog, as by ſucking like the horſe.

THE firſt peculiarity with which this animal ſtrikes the ſpectator, is the extreme length of its ſnout, which in ſome meaſure reſembles that of the hog, but elongated to a ſurprizing degree; it bears ſome diſtant reſemblance to the animal laſt deſcribed, except that the neck and the body are longer, the fur ſhorter, and the eyes ſmaller; but its principal diſtinction, as was ſaid before, conſiſts in the ſhape of its noſe, the upper jaw being an inch longer than the lower, and the ſnout, which is moveable in every diviſion, turning up at the end. Like the racoon, it ſets up on its hinder legs with great eaſe, and in this poſition, with both paws, carries the food to its mouth.

This animal is very ſubject to eat its own tail, which is rather longer than its body, but this ſtrange appetite is not peculiar to the coati alone; the mococo, and ſome of the monkey kinds do the ſame, and ſeem to feel no pain in

THERE are many animals that live upon ants in Africa and America; the pangolin or ſcaly lizard of Guinea may be conſidered among this number; but there are a greater variety in America, which makes thoſe minute inſects their only ſubſiſtence. Though they are of different figures and ſizes, yet in general they go under one common name of the ant-bear; the peculiar length and ſlenderneſs of their ſnout, their ſingular appetites, and their manner of taking their prey, ſtriking us too ſtrongly to attend to the minute differences of their ſize or form.

They have been claſſed by Mr. Buffon into the larger tamandua, the ſmaller tamandua, and the ant-eater. The longeſt of this kind is four feet long, from the tip of the ſnout to the inſertion of the tail; their legs are ſhort and armed with four ſtrong claws; their tail is long and tuffy, and the animal often throws it on

OF the ſloth there are two different kinds, diſtinguiſhed from each other by their claws; the one, which in its native country is called the unan, having only two claws upon each foot, and being without a tail; the other, which is called the ai, having a tail and three claws upon each foot. The unan has the ſnout longer, the ears more apparent, and the fur very different from the other. It differs alſo in the number of its ribs, this having forty-ſix, while the ai has but twenty-eight. Theſe differences, however, which though very apparent, have been but little regarded in the deſcription of two animals which ſo ſtrongly reſemble each other in the general out-lines of their figure, in their appetites, and their helpleſs formation.

They are both, therefore, deſcribed under the common appellation of the ſloth, and their habitudes well deſerve our wonder and curioſity. 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 Nature ſeems cramped and conſtrained in their formation; other animals are often indolent from choice, theſe are ſlow from neceſſity; the ai, from which I ſhall take my deſcription, and from which the other differs only in the ſlight particulars above-mentioned, and in being rather more active, is of about the ſize of a badger. Its fur is coarſe and ſtaring, ſomewhat reſembling dried graſs; the tail very ſhort, and ſcarce appearing; the mouth extending from ear to ear; the eye dull and heavy; the feet armed with three claws each, and made ſo ſhort, and ſet on ſo aukwardly, that a few paces is often the journey of a week; but though the feet are ſhort, they are ſtill longer than its legs, and theſe proceed from the body in ſuch an oblique direction, that the ſole of the foot ſeldom touches the ground. When the animal therefore is compelled to make a ſtep forward, it ſcrapes on the back of the nails along the ſurface, and wheeling the limbs circularly about, yet ſtill touching the ground, it at length places its foot in a progreſſive poſition; the other three limbs are all brought about with the ſame difficulty; and thus it is ſeen to move, not above three feet in an hour. In fact, this poor creature ſeldom changes place but by conſtraint, and when impelled by the ſevereſt ſtings of hunger.

The ſloth ſeems to be the meaneſt and moſt ill-formed of all thoſe animals that chew the cud; it lives entirely upon vegetable food, on the leaves, the fruit, and the flowers of trees, and often even on the very bark, when nothing elſe is left on the tree for its ſubſiſtence. Like all other ruminant animals, it has four ſtomachs; and theſe requiring a large ſhare of proviſion to ſupply them, it generally ſtrips a tree of all its verdure in leſs than a fortnight. Still however it keeps aloft, unwilling to deſcend, while any thing remains that can ſerve it for food; it therefore falls to devouring the bark, and thus in a ſhort time kills the tree upon which it found its ſupport. Thus deſtitute of proviſions above, and crawling ſlowly from branch to branch, in hopes of finding ſomething ſtill left, it is at laſt obliged to encounter all the dangers that attend it below. Though it is formed by nature for climbing a tree with great pain and difficulty, yet it is utterly unable to deſcend; it therefore is obliged to drop from the branches to the ground, and as it is incapable of exerting itſelf to break the violence of its deſcent, it drops like a ſhapeleſs heavy maſs, and feels no ſmall ſhock in the fall. There, after remaining ſome time torpid, it prepares for a journey to ſome neighbouring tree; but this of all migrations is the moſt tedious, dangerous, and painful; it often takes a week in crawling to a tree not fifty yards diſtant; it moves with imperceptible ſlowneſs, and often baits by the way. All motions ſeem to torture it, every ſtep it takes it ſets forth a moſt plaintive, melancholy cry, which from ſome diſtant ſimilitude to the human voice, excites a kind of diſguſt, mixed with pity. This plaintive ſound ſeems its chief defence, few quadrupedes appear willing to interrupt its progreſs, either that the fleſh is offenſive, or that they are terrified at its cries. When at length they reach their deſtined tree, they mount it with much greater eaſe than when they moved upon the plain. They fall to with famiſhed appetite, and as before, deſtroy the very ſource that ſupplies them.

How far theſe may be conſidered as the unfiniſhed productions of nature, I will not take upon me to determine; if we meaſure their happineſs by our ſenſations, nothing, it is certain, can be more miſerable; but it is probable, conſidered with regard to themſelves, they may have ſome ſtores of comfort unknown to us, which may ſet them upon a level with ſome other inferior ranks of the creation; if a part of their life be expoſed to pain and labour, it is compenſated by a larger portion of plenty, indolence, and ſafety. In fact, they are formed very differently from all other quadrupedes, and it is probable, they have different enjoyments. Like birds, they have but one common vent for the purpoſes of propagation, excrement, and urine. Like the tortoiſe, which they reſemble, in the ſlowneſs of their motion, they continue to live ſome time after their nobler parts are wounded, or even taken away. They bear the marks of all thoſe comely-formed animals, that like rude machines are not eaſily diſcompoſed.

Pennant's Synopſis. Its note, according to Kircher, is an aſcending and deſcending hexachord, which it utters only by night; its look is ſo piteous, as to move compaſſion; it is alſo accompanied with tears, that diſſuade every body from injuring ſo wretched a being. Its abſtinence from food is remarkably powerful; one that had faſtened itſelf by its feet to a pole, and was ſo ſuſpended croſs two beams, remained forty days without meat, drink, or ſleep; the ſtrength of its feet is ſo great, that whatſoever it ſeizes on, cannot poſſibly be freed from its claws. A dog was let looſe at the above-mentioned animal, taken from the pole; after ſome time the ſloth laid hold of the dog with its feet, and held him four days, till he periſhed with hunger.

THIS animal as little reſembles a quadrupede, as that which has been deſcribed in a former chapter. If we ſhould ſuppoſe a bird, diveſted of its feathers, and walking upon its legs, it might give us ſome idea of its figure. It has four feet indeed, but in running or reſting, it never makes uſe of any but the hinder. The number of legs, however, do not much contribute to any animal's ſpeed; and the gerbua, though properly ſpeaking, furniſhed but with two, is one of the ſwifteſt creatures in the world.

The gerbua is not above the ſize of a large rat, and its head is ſloped ſomewhat in the manner of a rabbit, the teeth alſo are formed like thoſe of the rat kind, there being two cutting teeth in each jaw; it has a very long tail, tufted at the end; the head, the back, and ſides are covered with large aſh-coloured ſoft hair; the breaſt and belly is whitiſh, but what moſt deſerves our attention in the formation of this little animal, is the legs; the fore-legs are not an inch long, with four claws and a thumb upon each, while the hinder-legs are two inches and a quarter, and exactly reſemble thoſe of a bird, there being but three toes, the middlemoſt of which is longeſt.

The gerbua is found in Egypt, Barbary, Paleſtine, and the deſarts between Buſſerah and Aleppo; its hind-legs, as was ſaid before, are only uſed in running, while the fore-paws, like thoſe of a ſquirrel, graſp its food, and in ſome meaſure perform the office of hands. It is often ſeen by travellers as they paſs along the deſarts, croſſing their way, and jumping ſix or eight feet at every bound, and going ſo ſwiftly, that ſcarce any other quadrupede is able to overtake them. They are a lively, harmleſs race of animals, living entirely upon vegetables, and burrowing like rabbits in the ground. Mr. Pennant tells us of two that were lately brought to London, that burrowed almoſt through the brick wall of the room where they were kept; they came out of their hole at night for food, and when caught, were much fatter and ſlicker than when confined to their burrows. A variety of this animal is found alſo in Siberia and Circaſſia, and is moſt probably, common enough over all Aſia. They are more expert diggers than even the rabbit itſelf; and when purſued for a long time, if they cannot eſcape by their ſwiftneſs, they try to make a hole inſtantly in the ground, in which they often bury themſelves deep enough to find ſecurity before their purſuers come up. Their burrows, in ſome places, are ſo thick, as to be dangerous to travellers, the horſes perpetually falling in them. It is a provident little animal, and lays up for the winter. It cuts graſs in heaps of a foot ſquare, which when dried, it carries into its burrow, therewith to ſerve it for food, or to keep its young warm during the rigours of the winter.

But of all animals of this kind, that which was firſt diſcovered and deſcribed by Mr. Banks, is the moſt extraordinary. He calls it the kanguroo; and though from its general outline, and the moſt ſtriking peculiarities of its figure, it greatly reſembles the gerbua, yet it entirely differs, if we conſider its ſize, or thoſe minute diſtinctions which direct the makers of ſyſtems in aſſorting the general ranks of nature.

The largeſt of the gerbua kind which are to be found in the ancient continent, do not exceed the ſize of a rabbit. The kanguroo of New Holland, where it is only to be found, is 〈1 page duplicate〉 often known to weigh above ſixty pounds, and muſt conſequently be as large as a ſheep. Although the ſkin of that which was ſtuffed and brought home by Mr. Banks, was not much above the ſize of a hare, yet it was greatly ſuperiour to any of the gerbua kind that have been hitherto known, and very different in many particulars. The ſnout of the gerbua, as has been ſaid, is ſhort and round, that of the new-diſcovered animal long and ſlender; the teeth alſo entirely differ; for as the gerbua has but two cutting teeth in each jaw, making four in all, this animal, beſides its cutting teeth, has four canine teeth alſo; but what makes a more ſtriking peculiarity, is the formation of its lower jaw, which, as the ingenious diſcoverer ſuppoſes, is divided into two parts, which open and ſhut like a pair of ſciſſars, and cut graſs, probably this animal's principal food. The head, neck, and ſhoulders are very ſmall in proportion to the other parts of the body; the tail is nearly as long as the body, thick near the rump, and tapering towards the end, the ſkin is covered with a ſhort fur, excepting the head and the ears, which bear a ſlight reſemblance to thoſe of the hare. We are not told, however, from the formation of its ſtomach, to what claſs of quadrupedes it belongs, from its eating graſs, which it has been ſeen to do; one would be apt to rank it among the ruminant animals, but from the canine teeth which it is found to have, we may on the other hand ſuppoſe it to bear ſome relation to the carnivorous. Upon the whole, however, it can be claſſed with none more properly, than with animals of the gerbua kind, as its hind legs are ſo much longer than the fore; it moves alſo preciſely in the ſame manner, taking great bounds of ten or twelve feet at a time, and thus ſometimes eſcaping even the fleeteſt greyhound, with which Mr. Banks purſued it. One of them, that was killed, proved to be good food; but a ſecond, which weighed eighty-four pounds, and was not yet come to its full growth, was found to be much inferior.

With this laſt deſcribed and laſt diſcovered animal, I ſhall conclude the hiſtory of quadrupedes, which of all parts of natural knowledge ſeems to have been deſcribed the moſt accurately. As theſe, from their figure, as well as their ſagacity, bear the neareſt reſemblance to man, and from their uſes or enmities are the moſt reſpectable parts of the inferior creation, ſo it was his intereſt, and his pleaſure, to make himſelf acquainted with their hiſtory. It is probable therefore that time, which enlarges the ſphere of our knowledge in other parts of learning, can add but very little to this. The addition of a new quadrupede to the catalogue already known, is of no ſmall conſequence, and happens but ſeldom; for the number of all is ſo few, that wherever a new one is found, it becomes an object worthy our beſt attention. It may take refuge in its native deſarts from our purſuits, but not from our curioſity.

But it is very different with the inferior ranks of the creation; the claſſes of birds, of fiſhes, and of inſects, are all much more numerous, and more incompletely known. The quadrupede is poſſeſſed of no arts of eſcaping, which we are not able to overcome; but the bird removes itſelf by its ſwiftneſs, the fiſhes find protection in their native element, and inſects are ſecured in their minuteneſs, numbers, and variety. Of all theſe therefore, we have but a very inadequate catalogue, and though the liſt be already very large, yet every hour is adding to its extent.

In fact, all knowledge is pleaſant only as the object of it contributes to render man happy, and the ſervices of quadrupedes being ſo very neceſſary to him in every ſituation, he is particularly intereſted in their hiſtory: without their aid, what a wretched and forlorn creature would he have been! the principal part of his food, his cloathing, and his amuſements are derived wholly from them, and he may be conſidered as a great lord, ſometimes cheriſhing his humble dependants, and ſometimes terrifying the refractory, to contribute to his delight and conveniencies.

The horſe and the aſs, the elephant, the camel, the lama, and the rein-deer, contribute to eaſe his fatigues, and to give him that ſwiftneſs which he wants from nature. By their aſſiſtance, he changes place without labour; he attains health without wearineſs; his pride is inlarged by the elegance of equipage, and other animals are purſued with a certainty of ſucceſs. It were happy indeed for man, if while converting theſe quadrupedes to his own benefit, he had not turned them to the deſtruction of his fellow-creatures; he has employed ſome of them for the purpoſes of war, and they have conformed to his noxious ambition with but too fatal an obedience.

The cow, the ſheep, the deer, and all their varieties, are neceſſary to him, though in a different manner. Their fleſh makes the principal luxuries of his table, and their wool or ſkins the chief ornament of his perſon. Even thoſe nations that are forbid to touch any thing that has life, cannot wholly diſpenſe with their aſſiſtance. The milk of theſe animals makes a principal part of the food of every country, and often repairs thoſe conſtitutions that have been broken by diſeaſe or intemperance.

The dog, the cat, and the ferret, may be conſidered as having deſerted from their fellow-quadrupedes, to liſt themſelves under the conduct and protection of man. At his command they exert all their ſervices againſt ſuch animals as they are capable of deſtroying, and follow them into places where he himſelf wants abilities to purſue.

As there is thus a numerous tribe, that he has taken into protection, and that ſupplies his neceſſities and amuſements, ſo there is alſo a ſtill more numerous one, that wages an unequal combat againſt him, and thus call forth his courage and his induſtry. Were it not for the lion, the tyger, the panther, the rhinoceros, and the bear, he would ſcarce know his own powers, and the ſuperiority of human art over brutal fierceneſs. Theſe ſerve to excite, and put his nobler paſſions into motion. He attacks them in their retreat, faces them with reſolution, and ſeldom fails of coming off with a victory. He thus becomes hardier and better in the ſtruggle, and learns to know and to value his own ſuperiority.

As the laſt mentioned animals are called forth by his boldeſt efforts, ſo the numerous tribe of the ſmaller vermin kind excite his continual vigilance and caution; his various arts and powers have been no where more manifeſt, than in the extirpation of thoſe that multiply with ſuch prodigious fecundity. Neither their agility nor their minuteneſs can ſecure them from his purſuits; and though they may infeſt, they are ſeldom found materially to injure him.

In this manner we ſee, that not only human want is ſupplied, but that human wit is ſharpened, by the humbler partners of man in the creation. By this we ſee, that not only their benefits, but their depredations are uſeful, and that it has wiſely pleaſed Providence to place us like victors in a ſubdued country, where we have all the benefit of conqueſt, without being ſo ſecure, as to run into the ſloth and exceſſes of a certain and undiſturbed poſſeſſion. It appears therefore, that thoſe writers who are continually finding immediate benefit in every production, ſee but half way into the general ſyſtem of nature. Experience muſt every hour inform us, that all animals are not formed for our uſe; but we may be equally well aſſured, that thoſe conveniencies which we want from their friendſhip, are well repaid by that vigilance which we procure from their enmity.