bined with a multitude of intentions, all proceeding from the fame author, and all, except thefe, directed to ends of undifputed utility. Of the vindications, however, of this economy, which we are able to affign, fuch as most extenuate the difficulty are the following.

it

With refpect to venomous bites and ftings, be obferved,

may

1. That, the animal itself being regarded, the faculty complained of is good; being conducive, in all cafes, to the defence of the animal; in fome cafes, to the fubduing of its prey; and, in fome probably, to the killing of it, when caught, by a mortal wound inflicted in the paffage to the ftomach, which may be no lefs merciful to the victim, than falutary to the devourer. In the viper, for inftance, the poisonous fang may do that, which, in other animals of prey, is done by the crush of the teeth. Frogs and mice might be swallowed alive without it.

2. But it will be faid, that this provifion, when it comes to the cafe of bites, deadly even to human bodies and to thofe of large quadrupeds, is greatly overdone; that it might have fulfilled its ufe, and yet have been much lefs deleterious than it is. Now I believe the

cafe

cafe of bites, which produce death in large animals, (of ftings I think there are none,) to be very few. The experiments of the Abbé Fontana, which were numerous, go ftrongly to the proof of this point. He found that it required the action of five exafperated vipers to kill a dog of a moderate fize; but that, to the killing of a mouse or a frog, a single bite was fufficient; which agrees with the ufe which we affign to the faculty. The Abbé feemed to be of opinion, that the bite even of the rattlefnake would not usually be mortal; allowing, however, that in certain particularly unfortunate cafes, as when the puncture had touched fome very tender part, pricked a principal nerve for inftance, or, as it is faid, fome more confiderable lymphatic veffel, death might speedily enfue.

3. It has been, I think, very justly remarked concerning ferpents, that, whilft only a few fpecies poffefs the venomous property, that property guards the whole tribe. The most innocuous fnake is avoided with as much care as a viper. Now the terror, with which large animals regard this clafs of reptiles, is its protection; and this terror is founded in the formidable revenge, which a few of the number, compared with the whole, are capable of taking.

The

The species of ferpents, defcribed by Linnæus, amount to two hundred and eighteen, of which thirty-two only are poisonous.

4. It feems to me, that animal conftitutions. are provided, not only for each element, but for each state of the elements, i. e. for every climate, and for every temperature; and that part of the mischief complained of, arifes from animals (the human animal most especially) occupying fituations upon the earth which do not belong to them, nor were ever intended for their habitation. The folly and wickednefs of mankind, and neceffitics proceeding from these causes, have driven multitudes of the fpecies to feek a refuge amongst burning fands, whilft countries bleffed with hofpitable fkies, and with the moft fertile foils, remain almoft without a human tenant. We invade the territories of wild beafts and venomous reptiles, and then complain that we are infefted by their bites and ftings. Some accounts of Africa place this observation in a ftrong point of view. "The defarts," fays Adanfon," are entirely barren, except where they are found to produce ferpents; and in fuch quantities, that fome extenfive plains are almost entirely covered with them." Thefe

are

are the natures appropriated to the fituation. Let them enjoy their exiftence: let them have their country. Surface enough will be left to man, though his numbers were increased an hundred fold, and left to him, where he might live, exempt from these annoyances.

The fecond cafe, viz. that of animals devouring one another, furnishes a confideration. of much larger extent. To judge, whether, as a general provifion, this can be deemed an evil, even fo far as we understand its confequences, which, probably, is a partial understanding, the following reflections are fit to be attended to.

1. Immortality upon this earth is out of the queftion. Without death there could be no generation, no fexes, no parental relation, i. e. as things are conftituted, no animal happiness. The particular duration of life, affigned to different animals, can form no part of the objection; because, whatever that duration was, whilft it remained finite and limited, it might always be asked, why it was no longer. The natural age of different animals varies from a fingle day to a century of years. No account be given of this; nor could any be given, whatever

can

whatever other proportion of life had obtained amongst them.

The term then of life in different animals being the fame as it is, the queftion is, what mode of taking it away is the best even for the animal itself.

Now, according to the established order of nature, (which we muft fuppofe to prevail, or we cannot reafon at all upon the subject,) the three methods by which life is ufually put an end to, are acute difeafes, decay, and violence. The fimple and natural life of brutes, is not often vifited by acute diftempers; nor could it be deemed an improvement of their lot, if they were. Let it be confidered therefore, in what a condition of suffering and mifery a brute animal is placed, which is left to perish by decay. In human fickness or infirmity, there is the affiftance of man's rational fellow creatures, if not to alleviate his pains, at least to minifter to his neceffities, and to fupply the place of his own activity. A brute, in his wild and natural state, does every thing for himself. When his ftrength therefore, or his fpeed, or his limbs, or his fenfes fail him, he is delivered over, either to abfolute famine,

or