Buffon's Natural History. Volume 07 (of 10): Containing a Theory of the Earth, a General History of Man, of the Brute Creation, and of Vegetables, Minerals, &c. &c

In Short

This volume serves as a comprehensive, systematic inventory of carnivorous animals, spanning continents to examine their behaviors, habitats, and physical traits. Part of a grander, ten-volume scientific encyclopedia, the work acts as both a field guide and a philosophical meditation on nature’s order. By meticulously contrasting the fauna of the Old and New Worlds, the text aims to explain how environment shapes life. It has lasted because of its ambitious scope, its reliance on direct observation, and its commitment to documenting the natural world with Enlightenment-era rigor and curiosity.

The Story

The narrative begins with a broad geographical inquiry, setting the stage by comparing the animal populations of the Old World with those of the Americas. The author argues that climate, geography, and historical migration patterns dictate why certain species thrive in one hemisphere but are absent in another. He posits that the New World’s environment—characterized by higher moisture and cooler temperatures—has resulted in distinct, often smaller, animal forms compared to their counterparts in the more arid, sun-scorched lands of Asia and Africa.

The focus then narrows to the individual lives of predators. The tiger is presented as the supreme example of an unsubduable spirit, a creature whose ferocity remains untouched by even the most persistent attempts at domestication. Through dramatic accounts of tigers facing elephants in the arenas of Siam, the text illustrates the raw, untamable power of the predator. From there, the survey turns to other feline hunters—the leopard, the ounce, and the lynx—before shifting to the smaller, more cunning inhabitants of the forest, such as the civet and the genet.

The journey continues through a diverse catalog of mammalian life, including the peccary, the bat, the squirrel, and the ant-eater. Each entry serves as a case study in biological adaptation. The author delves into the habits of the armadillo and the pangolin, engaging in lively critiques of past naturalists who conflated these distinct species. Throughout, the text consistently circles back to the question of human influence, noting how hunters, trappers, and colonial collectors have altered the natural distribution of species.

The volume culminates in an extensive examination of the elephant and the rhinoceros. The elephant is depicted as the pinnacle of animal intelligence—a creature that possesses the social cohesion of the beaver, the dexterity of the ape, and the loyalty of the dog. The author synthesizes anatomical reports and traveler accounts to demystify the animal’s physical form, from the texture of its skin to the function of its trunk. The text concludes by reconciling the existence of the legendary mammoth with the biology of the living elephant, settling long-standing debates about fossilized remains through careful anatomical comparison. By the final pages, the reader is left with a sense of the vast, interconnected machinery of the wild, where every creature holds a specific, albeit often misunderstood, place in the global hierarchy.

How It Unfolds

The continental comparison The book opens by mapping the distribution of animals across the globe, explaining how climate and mountain barriers prevented the migration of species like the chamois or buffalo to the Americas. This foundational logic establishes the author's theory that inanimate nature—the earth and the air—exerts a primary influence on the development of living things.

The character of the predator The middle section shifts to a detailed biological portrait of the tiger and its relatives, prioritizing behavioral observation over mere physical measurement. The narrative here is punctuated by eyewitness accounts of combat, which serve to ground the author’s philosophical claims about the inherent, immutable wildness of these animals.

The categorization of lesser species A series of shorter accounts explores the habits of smaller mammals, such as the musk-rat, the bat, and the armadillo. The author frequently pauses to correct the errors of previous writers, engaging in scholarly debates to refine the classification of species and clarify their true origins.

The pinnacle of intelligence The final chapters focus on the elephant, presenting it as a marvel of both physical mass and cognitive ability. The argument closes by linking the giant bones of antiquity to the modern elephant, effectively bridging the gap between natural history and the emerging science of paleontology.

The People

The central figures are the animals themselves, who are granted distinct "personalities" based on their observed temperaments. The tiger represents the archetype of the untamable, while the elephant is characterized as the noble, intelligent servant of humanity. The author, who acts as the primary voice of reason and classification, wants to strip away the myths of antiquity and replace them with verified observation. He is often at odds with earlier, less rigorous naturalists—men like Seba and Brisson—whom he critiques for their tendency to create "more species than Nature." Through these debates, the author emerges as an advocate for precision, constantly seeking to reconcile the conflicting reports of travelers and local inhabitants with the anatomical realities found in the King's cabinet. He ends as a man of science, satisfied only when he can reconcile the physical evidence of bones and skins with the broader, unified theory of the natural world.

In Its Own Voice

The tiger is, perhaps, the only animal whose spirit cannot be subdued.

This line introduces the author's assessment of the tiger’s temperament, which he maintains is impervious to both kindness and force.

The beaver, who seems inferior to the dog and ape, by his individual faculties, has nevertheless received from Nature a gift almost equivalent to that of speech; he makes himself so well understood by those of his own species, as to bring them together; to act in concert, and to undertake and execute extensive and continued labours in common.

This passage summarizes the author’s admiration for the social intelligence of animals, contrasting them with the individualistic nature of the predator.

What It's Really About

The book explores the interplay between environment and biological identity, asking how geography and climate define the boundaries of life. It challenges the reader to move beyond the superficial naming of animals and instead consider the deeper, systemic relationships within the natural order. Central to this is the argument that nature is not a static collection of curiosities, but a dynamic, evolving process that leaves physical evidence in the form of fossils and living specimens. Ultimately, it grapples with the responsibility of the human observer: to catalog the world with enough humility and accuracy to distinguish between the myths we tell about animals and the actual, often complex realities of their existence.

Why Read It Today

Readers with an interest in the history of science will find this volume a compelling look at how the modern understanding of the natural world was built. It is a slow, meditative read that rewards patience, as it reflects the meticulous—if occasionally long-winded—style of 18th-century scientific writing. You will encounter outdated attitudes, particularly in the author’s sweeping generalizations about indigenous peoples and the "coldness" of the American continent, which serve as a stark reminder of the era’s Eurocentric perspective. However, there is a profound pleasure in the author’s voice; he is a man deeply in love with the world’s diversity, writing with a warmth that makes his cataloging of tigers and bats feel like a grand adventure. For those who enjoy the intersection of natural philosophy and historical literature, this book offers a rare glimpse into a time when every discovery was a new piece in a giant, global puzzle. It is less a textbook and more a conversation with a brilliant, opinionated mind from the past, ensuring that even the most obscure animal receives its moment of respectful, detailed attention.