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"Proceeding now along the fhore round the north end of the ifland, you arrive at Oua na scarve, or the Cormorant's-Cave: here the ftratum under the pillars is lifted up very high; the pillars above it are confiderably lefs than thofe at the N. W. end of the island, but ftill very confiderable. Beyond is a bay, which cuts deep into the island, rendering it in that place not more than a quarter of a mile over. On the fides of this bay, efpecially beyond a little valley, which almoft cuts the island into two, are two ftages of pillars, but fmall; however having a ftratum between them exactly the fame as that above them, formed of innu⚫merable little pillars, fhaken out of their places and leaning in all directions.

"Having paffed this bay, the pillars totally ceafe; the rock is of a dark-brown ftone, and no figns of regularity occur till you have paffed round the S. E. end of the inland (a fpace almoft as large as that occupied by the pillars) which you meet again on the weft fide, beginning to form themfelves irregularly, as if the ftratum had an inclination to that form, and foon arrive at the bending pillars where I began.

"The itone of which the pillars are formed, is a coarse kind of ba faltes, very much resembling the Giant's Causeway in Ireland, tho' none of them are near fo neat as the fpecimens of the latter, which

I have feen at the British Museum ; owing chiefly to the colour, which in our's is a dirty brown, in the Irish a fine black: indeed the whole production feems very much to refemble the Giant's Cau eway; with which I fhould willingly compare it had I any account of the former before me."

Curious Observations concerning_the Propagation of Animals, and Care of their Offspring. From Lord Kaimes' Sketches of the History of Man, lately published.

THE natural hiftory of animals

with respect to pairing, and care of their offspring, is fufceptible of more elucidation than could regularly be introduced into the sketch itfelf, where it makes but a fingle argument. Loth to neglect a fubject that eminently displays the wifdom and benevolence of Providence, I gladly embrace the prefent opportunity, however flight, to add what further occurs upon it. Buffon, in many large volumes, beflows fcarce a thought on that favourite fubject; and the neglect of our countrymen Ray and Derham is ftill lefs excufeable, confidering that to difplay the conduct of Providence was their fole purpose in writing on natural history.

The instinct of pairing is bestowed on every species of animals to which it is neceffary for rearing their young and on no other fpecies. All wild birds pair, but with a remarkable difference between fuch

As this account is copied from Mr. Banks's journal, I take the liberty of faying (what by this time that gentleman is well acquainted with) that Staffais a genuine mafs of Bafaltes, or Giant's Causeway; but in most respects fuperior to the Irish in grandeur.

as

as place their nefts on trees, and fuch as place them on the ground. The young of the former, being hatched blind, and without feathers, require the nurfing care of both parents till they be able to fly. The male feeds his mate on the neft, and cheers her with a fong, As foon as the young are hatched, finging yields to a more neceffary Occupation, that of providing food for a numerous iffue, a task that requires both parents.

Eagles and other birds of prey build on trees, or on other inac ceffible fpots. They not only pair, but continue in pairs all the year round; and the fame pair procreate year after year. This at leaft is the cafe of eagles: the male and female hunt together, unless during incubation, during which time the female is fed by the male. A greater number than a single pair never are seen in company.

Gregarious birds pair, in order probably to prevent difcord in a fociety confined to a narrow space. This is the cafe particularly of pigeons and rooks. The male and female fit on the eggs alternately, and divide the care of feeding their young.

Partridges, plovers, pheasants, peafowl, groufe, and other kinds that place their nefts on the ground, have the inftinct of pairing, but differ from fuch as build on trees in the following particular; that after the female is impregnated, the completes her task without needing any help from the male. Retiring from him, the chufes a fafe fpot for her neft, where fhe can find plenty of worms and grafs-feed at hand. And her young, as foon as hatched, take foot, and feek food for themselves. The only remain

ing duty incumbent on the dam is, to lead them to proper places for food, and to call them together when danger impends. Some males, provoked at the defertion of their mates, break the eggs if they ftumble on them. Eider ducks pair like other birds that place their nefts on the ground; and the female finishes her neft with down plucked from her own breaft. If the nest be destroyed for the down, which is remarkably warm and elaftic, fhe makes another neft as before. If the be robbed a fecond time the makes a third neft, but the male furnishes the down. A lady of fpirit obferved, that the Eider duck may give a leffon to many a married woman, who is more difpofed to pluck her husband than herself. The black game never pair; in fpring the cock on an eminence crows, and claps his wings, and all the females within hearing inftantly refort to him.

Pairing birds, excepting those of prey, flock together in February, in order to chufe their mates. They foon difperfe, and are not feen afterwards but in pairs.

Pairing is unknown to quadrupeds that feed on grafs. To fuch it would be ufelefs; as the female gives fuck to her young while fhe herfelf is feeding. If M. Buffon deferves credit, the roe-deer are an exception; they pair though they feed on grafs, and have but one litter in a year.

Beafts of prey, fuch as lions, tigers, wolves, pair not. male is left to fhift for herself and for her young; which is a laborious tafk, and often fo unfuccefsful as to fhorten the life of many of them. Pairing is effential to birds of prey, because incubation leaves

the

the female no fufficient time to hunt for food. Pairing is not neceffary to beats of prey, because their young can bear a long faft. Add another reason, that they would multiply fo faft by pairing as to prove trouble fome neighbours to the human race.

Among animals that pair not, males fight defperately about a female. Such a battle among horn. ed cattle is finely defcribed by Lucretius. Nor is it unusual for seven or eight lions to wage bloody war for a fingle female.

The fame reason that makes pairing neceffary for gregarious birds, obtains with refpect to grega. rious quadrupeds; thofe especially who ftore up food for winter, and during that feafon live in common. Difcord among fuch would be at tended with worfe confequences than even among lions and bulls, who are not confined to one place. The beavers with refpect to pairing, resemble birds that place their neits on the ground. As foon as the young are produced, the males abandon their stock of food to their mates, and live at large, but return frequently to vifit them while they are fuckiing their young.

Hedge-hogs pair as well as feveral of the monkey.kind. We are not well acquainted with the natural hiftory of these animals; but it would appear that the young require the nurfing care of both parents.

Seals have a fingular economy. Polygamy feems to be a law of nature among them, as a male affo

ciates with feveral females. The fea-turtle has no occafion to pair, as the female concludes her talk by laying her eggs in the fand. The young are hatched by the fun, and immediately crawl to the fea.

In every other branch of animal œconomy concerning the continuance of the fpecies, the hand of Providence is equally confpicuous. The young of pairing birds are produced in the fpring, when the weather begins to be comfortable; and their early production makes them firm and vigorous before winter, to endure the hardships of that rigorous feafon. Such early production is in particular favourable to eagles, and other birds of prey; for in the fpring they have plenty of food, by the return of birds of paffage.

Though the time of geftation varies confiderably in the different quadrupeds that feed on grafs, yet the female is regularly delivered early in fummer, when grafs is in plenty. The mare admits the ftallion in fummer, carries eleven months, and is delivered the beginning of May. The cow differs little. A fheep and a goat take the male in November, carry five months, and produce when grais begins to fpring. These animals love thort grafs, upon which a mare or a cow would ftarve*. 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

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

forth

forth in May, or beginning of June; and the female of the fallow-deer brings forth at the fame time. The fhe afs is in season the beginning of fummer, but she 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 feafon : and the fhe lion brings forth about the fame time. Of this early birth there is one evident advantage hinted above; the young have time to grow fo firm as easily to bear the inclemencies of winter.

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

Gregarious quadrupeds that ftore up food for winter, differ from all other quadrupeds with refpect to the time of delivery. Beavers copulate 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 burthened with two litters at the fame time. The time of geflation is fo unerringly calculated by nature, that the young brood upon hand can provide for themfelves before another brood comes on.

Even a hare is not an exception, though many 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 beau. tiful inftance of providence. When a hind hears the hounds, fhe puts herself in the way of being hunted, and leads them away 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; the 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 and courage. So doth a ram, and fo do many other quadrupeds.

It is obferved by an ingenious writer, that nature sports in the colour of domestic animals, in order that men may the more readily diftinguish their own. It is not eaty to fay, why colour is more varied in fuch animals, than in thofe which remain in the state of nature: I can only fay, that the cause affigned is not fatisfa&tory. One is feldom at a lofs to diftinguish one animal from another, and provi dence never interpofes to vary the ordinary courfe of nature, for an end fo little neceffary as to make the diftinction ftill more obvious. Such interpofition would befide have a bad effect, by encouraging inattention and indolence.

• Pennant.

The

The foregoing particulars are offered to the public as hints merely may it not be hoped, that they will excite curiofity in those who relifh 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.

Of Animals; as divided into different Races or Kinds; from the fame,

A

S many animals contribute to our well-being, by labouring for us, or by affording us food and raiment, and as many are noxious; our terreftial habitation would be little comfortable, had we no means but experience for diftinguishing the one fort from the other. Were each individual animal a species by itfelf (indulging the expreffion) differing from every other individual, a man would finish his days without acquiring fo much knowledge of animals as is neceffary even for self-preservation : experience would give him no aid, with respect to any individual, of which he has no experience. The Deity has left none of his works imperfect, Ani. mals are formed of different kinds, each kind having a figure and a temper peculiar to itself. Great uniformity is difcovered among animals of the fame kind; no lefs variety among animals of different kinds; and, to prevent confufion, kinds are diftinguished externally by figure, air, manner, fo clearly

as not to escape even a child. To complete this curious fyftem, we have an innate fenfe, that each kind is endued with properties peculiar to itfelf; and that thefe properties belong to every individual of the kindt. Our road to the knowledge of animals is thus wonderfully abridged: the experience we have of the difpofition and properties of any animal is applied, the kind. By that fenfe, a child, without hesitation, to every one of familiar with one dog, is fond of others that refemble it: an European, upon the firft fight of a cow in Africa, ftrokes it as gentle and innocent; and an African avoids a tiger in Hindoftan as at home.

If the foregoing theory be well founded, neither experience nor argument is required to prove, that a horfe is not an afs, or that a monkey is not a mant. Some animals, indeed, are fo fimilar as to render it uncertain whether they be not radically of the fame fpeeies: but, in every fuch inftance, there is little need to be folicitous; for, I venture to affirm, that both would be found gentle or fierce, wholefome food, or unwholefome. Such queftions may be curious; but they are of no use.

'Í'he division of brute animals into different kinds, is not more useful to man than to the animals themselves. A beaft of prey would be ill fitted for its station, if nature did not teach it what creatures to attack, and what to avoid. A rabbit is the prey of the ferret. Pre

"And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, " and every fowl of the air, and brought them unto Adam to fee what he would "call them. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, "and to every beast of the field." Gen. ii. 19.

+ See Elements of Criticism, edit. 4. vol. 2. p. 490.

See M. Buffon's Natural History.

VOL, XVII.

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