or December, precifely at the time when grafs there is in the greatest plenty. In April the grafs is burnt up; and sheep have nothing but fhrubs to browse on. This appears to me a fignal instance of providential care *. The rutting-feafon of the red deer is the end of September, and beginning of October: it continues for three weeks; during which time, the male runs from female to female without intermiffion. The female brings forth in May, or beginning of June; and the female of the fallow-deer brings forth at the fame time. The fhe-afs takes the male the beginning of fummer; but fhe bears twelve months, which fixes her delivery to fummer. Wolves and foxes copulate in December: the female carries five months, and brings forth in April, when animal food is as plentiful as at any other season; and the fhe-lion brings forth about the fame time. Of this early birth there is

* I have it upon good authority, that ewes pafturing in a hilly country chufe early fome fnug spot, where they may drop their young with fafety. And hence the risk of removing a flock to a new field immediately before delivery: many lambs perith by being dropped in improper places.

one evident advantage, hinted above: the young have time to grow fo firm as eafily to bear the inclemencies of winter.

Were one to guess what probably would be the time of rutting, fummer would be named, efpecially in a cold climate. And yet to quadrupeds who carry but four or five months, that economy would throw the time of delivery to an improper season, for warmth, as well as for food. Wifely is it ordered, that the delivery should conftantly be at the best season for both.

Gregarious quadrupeds that store up food for winter, differ from all other quadrupeds with refpect to the time of delivery. Beavers copulate about the end of autumn, and bring forth in January, when their granary is full. The fame economy probably obtains among all other quadrupeds of the fame kind.

One rule takes place among all brute animals, without a fingle exception, That the female never is burdened with two litters at the fame time. The time of geftation is fo unerringly calculated by nature, that the young brood can provide for themfelves before another brood comes on. Even a hare is not an exception, tho' many

litters

litters are produced in a year. The female carries thirty or thirty-one days; but the fuckles her young only twenty days, after which they provide for themfelves, and leave her free to a new litter.

The care of animals to preferve their young from harm is a beautiful instance of Providence. When a hind hears the hounds, fhe puts herself in the way of being hunted, and leads them from her fawn. The lapwing is no lefs ingenious : if a perfon approach, the flies about, retiring always from her neft. A partridge is extremely artful: fhe hops away, hanging a wing as if broken: lingers till the perfon approach, and hops again *. A hen, timid by nature, is bold as a lion in defence of her young: the darts upon every creature that threatens danger. The roe-buck defends its young with refolution

* The following incident hardly deferves to be mentioned it is fo common, but that the tear is fcarce dry which the fight wrung from me. A man mowing a field for hay, paffed over a partridge fitting on her neft. Turning about to cut down a tuft that had been left, he unhappily brought up partridge on the point of his fcythe. Such affection there is even for a brood, not yet brought to light.

O 2

the

and

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

It is obferved by an ingenious writer (a), that nature sports in the colour of domeftic 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 state 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 interpofes 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 Providence, to encourage inattention and indolence.

The foregoing particulars are offered to the public as hints merely : may it not bę hoped, that they will excite curiofity in those who relish natural history? The field is rich, tho' 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 wifdom of Providence is in no

TH

instance 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 stomach 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 fense of decency, are great and grofs 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 fame night Ulyffes and Diomed fet out on their expedi tion to the Trojan camp: returning before day, they had a third fupper.

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