and courage. So doth a ram; and fo do many other quadrupeds.

Let me add a few words about the nature of inftinct in animals. Inftinct is an impulfe of nature to perform neceffary acts where reafon is deficient. The actions of brute animals are generally directed by instinct; but, as in man, the rational principle is more vigorous, he is trufted to the conduct of that principle, and is not left to be directed by instinct, except in fingular cafes where reafon cannot be of use. The inftincts of animals are finely adjufted to the other branches of their conftitution. An ox, which chews the cud, fwallows greedily, and grinds after at leifure. A horse, which does not chew the cud, grinds carefully in eating. Monfieur Buffon admits, that, by instinct, birds of paffage change their habitation; and yet, fo crude are his notions of instinct, as to affign caufes for the change, which require both reflection and forefight far above the glimmering reafon they are endued with. Quails, fays he, during fummer, are always travelling north, because they are afraid of heat; or, perhaps, to leave a country where the harveft is over, for ano

ther

ther where it is later. This would be a degree of knowledge denied even to man, unless from experience. Ariftotle, with as little accuracy, maintains, that it is from a thorough knowledge of the seasons that birds of paffage change their habitation twice a year. It is, I admit, the final cause of their migration; but undoubtedly blind inftinct is the efficient caufe. The magpy, he obferves, covers its neft, leaving only a hole in the fide to get in and out at; well knowing that many birds of prey are fond of its eggs. Yet the fame Buffon obferving, that, when a sparrow builds under a roof, it gives no cover to its neft, covering it only when it builds on a tree; and that a beaver, which erects a strong dam-dike to keep a running water always at the fame height, never thinks of fuch an operation when it fettles on the brink of a lake which varies little in height; maintains these variations to be the perfection of instinct. Is it not apparent that reason is neceffary to make a being to vary its conduct according to circumftances; and that what is observed of the fparrow and beaver is evidence of no flight degree of reflection? Inftinct, on the contrary, is

a

a blind impulse of nature, which prompts always the fame uniform course, without regard to variation of circumftances.

It is observed by an ingenious writer(a), that nature sports in the colour of domestic animals, in order that men may the more readily distinguish their own. It is not easy to say why colour is more varied in fuch animals, than in those which remain in the ftate of nature: I can only fay, that the cause affigned is not fatisfactory. One is feldom at a lofs to diftinguish one animal from another; and Providence never interposes to vary the ordinary course of nature, for an end fo little neceffary as to make the diftinction ftill more obvious. I add, that it does not appear, in any inftance, the intention of Previdence, to encourage inattention and indolence.

The foregoing particulars are offered to the public as hints merely may it not be hoped, that they will excite curiosity in those who relish natural history? The field is rich, though little cultivated; and I know no other branch of natural history that opens finer views into the conduct of Providence.

(a) Pennant.

SKETCH

SKETCH VII.

Progrefs and Effects of Luxury.

HE wisdom of Providence is in no

TH

Tinance more confpicuous than in

inftance more confpicuous than in adjusting the constitution of man to his external circumftances. Food is extremely precarious in the hunter-ftate; fometimes fuperabounding with little fatigue, fometimes failing after great fatigue. A favage, like other animals of prey, has a ftomach adjusted to that variety he can bear a long faft; and gorges voraciously when he has plenty, without being the worfe for it. Whence it is, that barbarians, who have fcarce any sense of decency, are great and gross feeders *. The

In the Iliad of Homer, book 9. Agamemnon calls a council at night in his tent. Before entering on bufinefs, they go to fupper, (line 122). An embaffy to Achilles is refolved on. The ambaffadors again fup with Achilles on pork grifkins, (line 271). Achilles rejects Agamemnon's offer; and the same night Ulyffes and Diomed fet out on their expedition to the Trojan camp: returning before day, they had a third fupper.

Kamikatkans

Kamikatkans love fat; and a man entertains his guests by cramming into their mouths fat flices of a feal, or a whale, cutting off with his knife what hangs out. Barbarians are equally addicted to drunkenness; and peculiarly fond of spiritous liquors. Drinking was a fashionable vice in Greece, when Menander, Philemon, and Diphilus, wrote, if we can rely on the translations or imitations of their plays by Plautus and Terence. Cyrus preparing to attack his brother Artaxerxes, King of Perfia, published a manifefto, that he was more worthy of the throne than his brother, because he could swallow more wine. Diodorus Siculus reports, that, in his time, the Gauls, like other Barbarians, were much addicted to drinking. The ancient Scandinavians, who, like other favages, were intemperate in eating and drinking, fwallowed large cups to their gods, and to fuch of their countrymen as had fallen bravely in battle. We learn from the 25th fable of the Edda, which was their facred book, that to hold much liquor was reputed a heroic virtue. Contarini the Venetian ambaffador, who wrote anno 1473, fays, that the Ruffians were abandoned to

drunkennefs;