let us confider the circumftances peculiar to each, and obferve their effedl on ani- mal nature. America running through * viii. 134.
E 92 ] the torrid as well as temperate zone, has more heat collectively taken, than Europe.
But Europe, according to our hypothecs, is the dryeft. They are equally adapted then CO animal produftions; each being endowed with one of thofe cauibs which befriend animal growth, and with one which oppofes it. If it be thought un- equal to compare Europe with America, which is fo much larger, I anAver, not more fo than to compare America with the vvhole world. Befides, the purpofe of the comparifon is to try an hypothefis, which makes tiie hze of animals depend on the beat and moijhire of climate. If therefore we take a region, fo entenhve as to comprehend a feniible dil'tinCtion of climate, and fo extenfive too as that local accidents, or the intercourfe of animals on its borders, may not materially affeft the fize of thofe in its inter?or parts, we fliall comply with thofe conditions which the hypothefis may reafonably demiancj. The objeftion would be the weaker in the pre- fent cafe, becaufe any intercourfe of ani- mals which may take place on the confines of Europe and Afia, is to the advantage of the former, Afia producing certainly- larger animals than Europe. Let us then take a comparative view of the quadru- peds of Europe and America, prefenting them to the eye in three different tables, in one of which Ihall be enumerated thofe found in both countries; in a fecond, thofe found in one only; in a third, thofe which have been domefticated in both. To fa- cihate the comparifon, let thofe of each table be arranged in gradation according to their fizes, from the greateft to the fmal- left, fo far as their fizes can be conjefliur- edo The weights of the large animals ihall be expreffed in the Englilh avoirdu- poife and its decimals: thofe of the fmal- ler, in the fame ounce and its decimals.