Copy 1, Volume 3

An history of the earth, and animated nature / [Oliver Goldsmith].

  • Oliver Goldsmith
Date:
1776
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An history of the earth, and animated nature / [Oliver Goldsmith]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    AN HIST OR T OF in gloomy folitude ; fhefc, on the contrary5- range together j the very meaneft of them are found to unite in each other’s defence ; and the hare itfelf is a gregarious animal, in' thofe countries where it has no other enemies but the beafts of the foreft to’ guard againft. As the food of ruminant animals is cm tirely of the vegetable kind, and this is very eafily procured, fo thefe animals feem natu¬ rally more indolent and lefs artful than thofe of the carnivorous kinds; and as their ap¬ petites are mo^e fimple, their inftinds ieem* to be lefs capable of variation. The fox or the wolf are for ever prowling; their long habits of want give them a degree of (harp- nefs and cunning ; their life is a continued fcene of ftratagem and efcape : but the pa¬ tient ox, Or the deer, enjoy the repafi: that Nature has abundantly provided ; certain of fubfiftencc, and content with fecurity. As Nature has furnilhed thefe animals- with an appetite for fuch coarfe and fimpIe’ nutriment, fo the has enlarged the capa- city of the inteftines, to take in a great¬ er fupply. In the earnivorops kinds, as- their food is nourifhing and juicy, their ftomachs are but fmall, and their inte- flines fhort; but in thefe, whofe pafture is coarfe, and where much muft be accu¬ mulated before any quantity of nourifliment can
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