XIV. LETTER tribes are confined to their native inferiority to us, and to their discordancies from us, inflexibly and unalterably, in their minds as in their bodies. No time, and no arts, and no habit, can convert the Baboon figure, features or skin, into the feminine face and form which we love, or into the manly presence and body we admire; nor his imperfect mind into our capacities and sensibilities. What they are, they can only be for all succeeding ages in which they may exist. No Brute animals of any kind, in any chronology of their being, have been found to possess the expanding and unceasing improveability of the human Soul. It is this quality, never extinguished or extinguishable, tho often dormant, which proclaims our spirit to be born for immortality; as the want of it makes it probable that their vital principle in all other material organizations, at least in their present forms and phenomena, is not intended to be perpetuated hereafter." she gave him hot water, which scalded him; after that, he always put in a spoon or piece of wood first, and touched the spoon. This action was very like human reflection. Monkeys usually show some surprise at seeing themselves in a looking-glass; but this Orang Outang surveyed himself in it with curiosity, and tried to ascertain its hardness by biting it, as he would other things. He was called Maharajal, and listened when he was called. Bull. Univ. 1830, vol. 2. p. 475. 45 Mr. Logan has briefly, but neatly, sketched the real character of the Animal World. 'There are many qualities which we share in common with the inferior animals. In the acuteness of the external senses, some of them excel our species. They have a reason of their own. They make approaches to human intelligence, and are led by an instinct of nature to associate with one another. They have also their virtues; and exhibit such examples of affection, of industry, and of courage, as give lessons to mankind. But in all their actions they discover no sense of Deity, and no traces of religion.' Serm. v. 1. p. 3..... The philosophic moralist, Charron, says of them kindly, and not untruly, 'The man is wise who con siders XIV. siders them, and who will make them his lesson and his benefit. In LETTER doing this, he will form himself to innocence, simplicity, liberty, and to that natural mildness which shines out in the Brute creation, but which is altered and corrupted in us by our artificial inventions and excesses, which spoil what we have beyond them in our mind and judgment...... We shall often be instructed by their activity and industry..... There is always some intercourse between them and us-some relation and mutual obligation. We belong, both, to the same Master. They are of the same family as ourselves, and it is base to use cruelty to them. We owe justice to mankind, and favor and benignity to all other creatures who are capable of receiving them.' La Sagesse, 1. 1. p. 70. Dr. Hartley has also thus benevolently pleaded in their behalf. These creatures resemble us greatly in the make of the body in general, and in that of the particular organs of circulation, respiration, digestion, &c.; also in the formation of their intellects, memories and passions, and in the signs of distress, fear, pain and death. They often likewise win our affections by the marks of peculiar sagacity; by their instincts, helplessness, innocence, nascent benevolence,' &c. On their revival in another life, he adds, The future existence of Brutes cannot be disproved by any argument, as far as yet appears.' And if there be any glimmering of hope of an hereafter for them; if they should prove to be our brethren, and sisters, in the higher sense; in immortality, as well as mortality; in the permanent principle of our minds, as well as in the frail dust of our bodies-this would have a tendency to increase our tenderness for them.' Obs. on Man, v. 2. p. 231. 404. XV. LETTER XV. THE THE OVIPAROUS AND AMPHIBIOUS QUADRUPEDS LETTER THE Class of Animals which is very peculiarly connected with those relics of their primeval races which our rocks and subterraneous strata have disclosed, is that which contains the Oviparous Quadrupeds-the Tortoise, Crocodile, and Lizard tribes -and those without tails. These spring from eggs, without parental brooding, like fish and insects; and as they have left for our present knowlege of their ancient nature, amid the destructions they underwent, some important fossil remains of their bones and figure, they ought not to be omitted in our general review of the Orders and Economy of the Primitive Creation. The Oviparous Quadrupeds present to us material investments of the animal mind and living principle, very distinct from the figures, limbs and functions of the other quadrupeds and kingdoms of nature, yet associated with them by several analogies. They have a heart, tho it has only one ventricle. They have blood; yet it is not the red warm fluid, but a cold and pale one. They breathe, but with frequent and long suspensions, which no land or air animal could XV. endure.' They have the same senses, but in feebler LETTER action and sensitivity, except that of sight. Their brain is proportionally smaller. Their muscular motion, in some, is far less vigorous, tho active in others. They require less food, and can remain a long time without any. Their manners are gentler; they exhibit no ferocity, and appear to enjoy a much longer and more tranquil life. They usually inhabit the sea or its shores, rivers and their banks, marshes, pools, and other wet and moist places. They live or herd together, are generally inoffensive, and can be tamed, and become tractable and amusing. The young never know their mothers, nor receive any nourish 5 This class of animals is distinguished by a body cold and generally naked; a countenance stern and expressive, and harsh voice. All have cartilaginous bones; slow circulation; they are deficient in diaphragm; do not transpire; are tenacious of life.' T. Linn. v. 1. p. 638. 2 The class of Oviparous Quadrupeds are possessed of an equal number of senses with the more perfect animals; but all their senses, except that of sight, are so weak, in comparison with the Viviparous Quadrupeds, that they must receive much fewer impressions thro them,-must communicate seldomer and less perfectly with external objects, and be less strongly and frequently excited to internal action in consequence of these.' Count La Cepede, v. 1. p. 16. Kerr's Transl. Exquisite sight and hearing.' T. Linn. p. 638. ..... 6 36 They are able to remain a very long time without food. Some instances have been known of Tortoises and Crocodiles living a whole year, tho deprived of all sustenance.' La Cep. 30.... They can live a long time without food.' T. Linn. 638. Most of the Oviparous Quadrupeds are long-lived. We are certain that the large Sea Tortoises, and the other species, live to a very advanced age.' p. 59...... Perhaps even more than a century.' p. 115.....' The Mud Tortoise lives at least 80 years. From this great length of life, the Japanese adopt the Tortoise as an emblem or hieroglyphic of happiness.' p. 116. For the most part the manners of the Animals of this class are gentle, and their characters are free from any degree of ferocity.' La Cep. p. 48..... Their tempers are often susceptible of being considerably modified by culture.' Ib. p. 58. XV. LETTER ment from them. Hence they are what they uniformly show themselves to be, from the impulses of their assumed principle of life and provided organization; and independent of all tuition. La Cepede divides them into three general classes, which he arranges separately into such divisions as their distinct kinds seem to make reasonable;' and these are subdivided into their respective species. They form the Amphibia of Linnæus, who distinguished them into two Orders,-Reptiles with feet, and Serpents without; and into twelve genera." 8 The Creator has made nothing that is unuseful— nothing so insulated as to have no relations with any thing else-nothing which is not serviceable or instrumental to other purposes besides its own existence They have no enjoyment of parental affection. They abandon their eggs immediately after they are laid.' La C. 54. . . . . Thus the young of oviparous Quadrupeds receive from their parents neither nourishment, care, nor education. They neither see nor hear any action or sound to imitate.' Ib. 57. He classes them in his Supplement to Buffon, into-1. Tortoises; II. Lizards; 111. Oviparous Quadrupeds without tails: which he divides thus-the 1st into Sea Tortoises, Fresh water, and Land ones; the 2d into Crocodiles and Lizards; the 3d into Frogs and Toads. La Cep. Ov. Quad. v. 1 & 2. He made 6 species of Sea Tortoises, and 26 of the others; 3 distinct species of the real Crocodiles, 8 of resembling Lizards; 14 other species of Lizards with round tails; 23 more species of the kind which he heads with the Chameleon; 5 others, the Flying Lizard; and 6 others, which begin with the Salamander. He enumerates 20 species of Frogs, and 14 of Toads. Ib. 9 To the Reptiles who have feet and naked ears without auricles, he assigned 5 genera,-the Tortoise; the Dragon, or Flying Lizard; the Lizard tribe, including the Crocodiles; the Frog and Toad genera; and one which he called Siren. These in Dr. Turton's edition of the System, comprised in the first, 3 species of Marine Turtles, 18 River Turtles, and 12 Land Tortoises; in the second, 18 Toads and 18 Frogs; the fourth has 2 Crocodiles and an Alligator, and 78 Lizards. The Serpents are arranged into 7 Genera, with numerous species. |