mel is peculiarly fitted for the burning fands of Arabia; and Lapland would be uninhabitable but for rain-deer, an animal fo entirely fitted for piercing cold, that it cannot fubfift even in a temperate climate. Arabian and Barbary horfes degenerate in Britain; and, to preferve the breed in fome degree of perfection, frequent fupplies from their original climate are requifite. Spanish horfes degenerate in Mexico; but improve in Chili, having more vigour and fwiftness there, than even the Andalufian race, whofe off-fpring they are. Our dunghill-fowl, imported originally from a warm country in Afia, are not hardened, even after many centuries, to bear the cold of this country like birds originally native: the hen lays few or no eggs in winter, unless in a house warmed with fire. The deferts of Zaara and Biledulgerid in Africa, may be properly termed the native country of lions: there they are nine feet long and five feet high. Lions in the fouth of Africa toward the Cape of Good Hope, are but five feet and a half long, and three and a half high. A breed of lions tranfplanted from the latter to the former, would rife to the full fize; and VOL. I.

B

fink

fink to the fmaller fize, if tranfplanted from the former to the latter*.

To preferve the different kinds or fpecies of animals entire, as far as neceffary, Providence is careful to prevent a mixed breed. Few animals of different fpecies copulate together. Some may be brought to copulate, but without effect; and fome produce a mongrel, a mule for example, which feldom procreates, if at all. In

*That every fpecies of plants has a proper climate where it grows to perfection, is a fact uncontroverted. The fame holds in brute animals. Biledulgerid, the kindly climate for lions, would be mortal to the bear, the wolf, the deer, and other inhabitants of a cold region. Providence has not only fitted the productions of nature for different climates, but has guarded thefe productions against the extremities of the weather in the fame climate. Many plants clofe their leaves during night; and fome clofe them at mid-day against the burning rays of the fun. In cold climates, plants during winter are protected against cold by fnow. In thefe climates, the hair of fome animals grows long in winter: feveral animals are covered with much fat, which protects them against cold; and many birds are fatter in winter than in fummer, though probably their nourishment is lefs plentiful. Several animals fleep during winter in fheltered places; and birds of paffage are taught by nature to change the climate, when too hot or too cold.

fome

fome few inftances, where a mixture of fpecies is harmlefs, procreation goes on without limitation. All the different fpecies of the dog-kind copulate together; and the mongrels produced generate others without end.

M. Buffon, in his natural hiftory, borrows from Ray (a) a very artificial rule for afcertaining the different fpecies of animals: "Any two animals that can pro

create together, and whofe iffue can al"so procreate, are of the same species (b).” A horfe and an afs can procreate together; but they are not, fays he, of the fame ípecies, because their iffue, a mule, cannot procreate. He applies that rule to man; holding all men to be of the fame fpecies, because a man and a woman, however different in fize, in fhape, in complexion, can procreate together without end. And by the fame rule he holds all dogs to be of the fame species. With refpect to other animals, the author fhould peaceably be indulged in his fancy; but as it com

(a) Wisdom of God in the works of creation.

(b) Ostavo edit. vol. 8. p. 104. and in many other parts.

prehends

prehends also man, I cannot pafs it without examination. Providence, to prevent confufion, hath in many inftances withheld from animals of different fpecies a power of procreating together: but as our author has not attempted to prove that fuch reftraint is univerfal without a fingle exception, his rule is evidently a petitio principii. Why may not two animals different in fpecies produce a mixed breed? M. Buffon muft fay, that it is contrary to a law of nature. But has he given any evidence of this fuppofed law of nature? On the contrary, he proves it by various inftances not to be a law of nature. He admits the fheep and the goat to be of different fpecies; and yet we have his authority for affirming, that a he-goat and a ewe produce a mixed breed which generate for ever (a). The camel and the dromedary, though nearly related, are however no lefs diftinct than the horfe and the afs. The dromedary is lefs than the camel, more flender, and remarkably more swift of foot it has but one bunch on its back, the camel has two: the race is more nu

(a) Vol. 10. p. 138.

merous

merous than that of the camel, and more. widely spread. One would not defire diftinguishing marks more fatisfying; and yet these two fpecies propagate together, no less freely than the different races of men and of dogs. M. Buffon indeed, with refpect to the camel and dromedary, endeavours to fave his credit by a distinction. without a difference. "They are," fays he, one fpecies; but their races are dif"ferent, and have been fo paft all memo"ry (a)." Is not this the fame with saying that the camel and the dromedary are different fpecies of the fame genus? which alfo holds true of the different fpecies of men and of dogs. If our author will permit me to carry back to the creation the camel and the dromedary as two diftinct races, I defire no other conceffion. He admits no fewer than ten kinds of goats, visibly diftinguishable, which also propagate together; but fays, that thefe are varieties. only, though permanent and unchangeable. No difficulty is unfourmountable, if words be allowed to pass without meaning. Nor does he even adhere to the fame opi

(a) Vol. 10. p. 1.