I have not inserted in the first table the Phoca*, nor leather-winged bat, because the one living half the year in the water, and the other being a winged animal, the individuals of each species may visit both continents.

Of the animals in the first table, Mons. de Buffon himself informs us, (XXVII. 130. XXX. 213.) that the beaver, the otter, and shrew mouse, though of the same species, are larger in America than in Europe. This should therefore have corrected the generality of his

It is said, that this animal is seldom seen above 30 miles from shore, or beyond the 56th degree of latitude. The interjacent islands between Asia and America admit his passing from one continent to the other without exceeding these bounds. And in fact, travellers tells us that these islands are places of principal resort for them, and especially in the season of bringing forth their young,

expressions, XVIII. 145. and elsewhere, that the animals common to the two countries, are considerably less in America than in Europe,

ured no difference,

et cela sans aucune exception.' He tells us too, (Quadrup. VIII. 334. edit. Paris, 1777) that on examining a bear from America, he redans la forme de cet ours d'Amerique compare a celui d'Europe;" but adds from Bartram's journal, that an Ame-rican bear weighed 400lb. English, equal to 367lb. French: whereas we find the European bear examined by Mons, D'Aubenton, (XVII. 82.) weighed but 1411b. French..

That the

palmated elk is larger in America than in Europe, we are informed by Kalm*, a naturalist who visited the former by public appointment, for the express purpose of examining the subjects of natural history. In this fact Pennant concurs with him. (Barrington's Miscellanies.) The same Kalm tells us that the black moose, or renne of America is as high as a tall horse; and Catesby, that it is about the bigness of a middle-sized ox. The same account of their size has been given me by many who have seen them. But Mons. D'Aubenton says* that the renne of Europe is about the size of a red deer. The weasel is larger in America than in Europe, as may be seen by comparing its dimensions as reported by Mons. D'Aubentont and Kalm. The latter tells us that the lynx, badger, red fox, and flying squirrel, are the same in America as in Europe: by which expression I un

1. 233. Lon. 1772. • XXIV. 162. + XV. 42.

+ Ib. 233.

+ I. xxvii. $1,359. I. 48. 221, 251, II 52+

derstand, they are the same in all material circumstances, in size as well as others for if they were smaller, they would differ from the European. Our grey fox is, by Catesby's account* little different in size and shape from the European fox. I presume he means the red fox of Europe, as does Kalm, where he sayst, that in size they do not quite come up to our foxes.' For proceeding next to the red fox of America, he says they are entirely the same with the European sort: which shows he had in view one European sort only, which was the red. So that the result of their testimony is, that the American grey fox is somewhat less than the European red; which is equally true of the grey fox of Europe, as may be seen by comparing the measures of the Count de Buffon and Mons. D'Aubenton‡. The white bear of America is as large as that of Europe. The bones of the mammoth which has been found in America, are as large as those found in the old world. It may be asked, why I insert the mammoth, as if it still existed? I ask in return, why I should omitit, as if it did not exist? Such is the oconomy of nature, that no instance can be produced, of her having permitted any one race of her animals to become extinct; of her having formed any link in her great work so weak as to be broken. To add to this, the traditionary testimony of the Indians, that this animal still exists in the northern and western parts of America, would be adding the light of a taper

+1.220:

11. 78. + XXVII. 63 XIV. 119. Harris, II. 387. Buffon, Quad. XI 1'

to that of the meridian sun. Those parts still remain in their aboriginal state, unexplored and undisturbed by us, or by others for us. He may as well exist there now, as he did formerly where we find his bones. If he be a carnivorous animal, as some anatomists have conjectured, and the Indians affirm, his early retirement may be accounted for from the general destruction of the wild game by the Indians, which commences in the first instant of their connexion with us, for the purpose of purchasing match-coats, hatchets, and fire-locks, with their skins. There remain then the buffaloé, red deer, fallow deer, wolf, roe, glutton, wildcat, monax, vison, hedgehog, marten, and water rat, of the comparative sizes of which we have not sufficient testimony. It does not appear that Messrs. de Buffon and D'Aubenton have measured, weighed, or seen those of America. It is said of some of them, by some travellers, that they are smaller than the European. But who were these travellers? Have they not been men of a very different description from those who have laid open to us the other three quarters of the world? Was natural history the object of their travels? Did they measure or weigh the animals they speak of? or did they not judge of them by sight, or perhaps even from report only? Were they acquainted with the animals of their own country, with which they undertake to compare them? Have they not been so ignorant as often to mistake the species? A true answer to these questions would probably lighten their authority, so as to render it insufficient for the foundation of an hypothe