BOOK IV.

_Of Animals in general._

In the last BOOK, having survey’d the Earth it self in Particular, I shall next take a View of the Inhabitants thereof; or the several Kinds of Creatures[a], that have their Habitation, Growth, or Subsistence thereon.

These Creatures are either Sensitive, or Insensitive Creatures.

In speaking of those endow’d with Sense, I shall consider:

I. Some Things common to them all.

II. Things peculiar to their Tribes.

I. The Things in common, which I intend to take Notice of, are these Ten:

1. The five _Senses_, and their Organs.

2. The great Instrument of Vitality, _Respiration_.

3. The _Motion_, or Loco-motive Faculty of Animals.

4. The _Place_, in which they live and act.

5. The _Balance_ of their Numbers.

6. Their _Food_.

7. Their _Cloathing_.

8. Their _Houses_, _Nests_ or _Habitations_.

9. Their Methods of _Self-Preservation_.

10. Their _Generation_, and _Conservation_ of their Species by that Means.

FOOTNOTES:

[a]

_Principio cœlum, ac terras, camposque liquentes,_ _Lucentemque globum Lunæ, Titaniaque astra_ _Spiritus intùs alit, totamque infusa per artus_ _Mens agitat molem, & magno se corpore miscet._ _Inde hominem, pecudumque genus, vitæque volantum,_ _Et quæ marmoreo fert monstra sub æquore pontus._ _Igneus est illis vigor, & cœlestis origo_ _Seminibus._

Virgil. Æneid. L. 6. Carm. 724.

CHAP. I.

_Of the five Senses in general._

The first Thing to be consider’d, in common to all the Sensitive Creatures, is, their Faculty of _Seeing_, _Hearing_, _Smelling_, _Tasting_ and _Feeling_; and the _Organs_ ministring to there five _Senses_, together with the exact Accommodation of those Senses, and their Organs, to the State and Make of every Tribe of Animals[a]. The Consideration of which Particulars alone, were there no other Demonstrations of God, is abundantly sufficient to evince the infinite Wisdom, Power and Goodness, of the great Creator. For, Who can but stand amaz’d at the Glories of these Works! At the admirable Artifice of them! And at their noble Use and Performances! For suppose an Animal, as such, had Breath and Life, and could move it self hither and thither; yet how could it know whither to go, what it was about, where to find its Food, how to avoid thousands of Dangers[b], without Sight! How could Man, particularly, view the Glories of the Heavens, survey the Beauties of the Fields, and enjoy the Pleasure of beholding the noble Variety of diverting objects, that do, above us in the Heavens, and here in this lower World, present themselves to our View every where; how enjoy this, I say, without that admirable Sense of _Sight_[c]! How could also the Animal, without _Smell_ and _Taste_, distinguish its Food, and discern between wholsome and unwholsome; besides the Pleasures of delightful Odours, and relishing Gusto’s! How, without that other Sense of _Hearing_, could it discern many Dangers that are at a Distance, understand the Mind of others, perceive the harmonious Sounds of Musick, and be delighted with the Melodies of the winged Choir, and all the rest of the Harmonies the Creator hath provided for the Delight and Pleasure of his Creatures! And lastly, How could Man, or any other Creature distinguish Pleasure from Pain, Health from Sickness, and consequently be able to keep their Body sound and entire, without the Sense of _Feeling_! Here, therefore, we have a glorious Oeconomy in every Animal, that commandeth Admiration, and deserveth our Contemplation: As will better appear by coming to Particulars, and distinctly considering the Provision which the Creator hath made for each of these Senses.

FOOTNOTES:

[a] _Ex sensibus ante cætera Homini Tactus, deinde Gustatus: reliquis superatur à multis. Aquilæ clariùs cernunt: Vultures sagaciùs ordorantur, liquidiùs audiunt Talpæ obrutæ terrâ, tam denso atque surdo naturæ elemento._ Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 10. c. 69.

[b] _Subjacent Oculi, pars corporis pretiosissima, & qui lucis usu vitam distinguant à morte._ Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 11. c. 37.

[c] _Fœminæ aliquæ Megarenses solis oculis discernere valebant inter Ova quæ ex Gallinâ nigrâ, & quæ ex albâ nata sunt_, is what is affirmed (how truly I know not) by _Grimald. de Lumin. & Color. Pr._ 43. §. 60.

CHAP. II.

_Of the Eye._

For our clearer Proceeding in the Consideration of this noble Part[a], and understanding its Oeconomy, I shall consider:

1. The _Form_ of the Eye.

2. Its _Situation_ in the Body.

3. Its _Motions_.

4. Its _Size_.

5. Its _Number_.

6. Its _Parts_.

7. The _Guard_ and _Security_ Nature hath provided for this so useful a Part.

As this eminent Part hath not been pretermitted by Authors, that have made it their particular Design and Business to speak of the Works of God; so divers of the aforesaid Particulars have been touched upon by them. And therefore I shall take in as little as possible of what they have said, and as near as I can, mention chiefly what they have omitted. And,

1. For the _Form_ of the Eye; which is for the most part Globous, or somewhat of the sphæroidal Form: Which is far the most commodious optical Form, as being fittest to contain the Humours within, and to receive the Images of Objects from without[b]. Was it a Cube, or of any multangular Form, some of its Parts would lie too far off[c], and some too nigh those lenticular Humours, which by their Refractions cause Vision. But by Means of the Form before-mentioned, the Humours of the Eye are commodiously laid together, to perform their Office of Refraction; and the _Retina_, and every other Part of that little darkned Cell, is neatly adapted regularly to receive the Images from without, and to convey them accordingly to the common Sensory in the Brain.

To this we may add the aptitude of this Figure to the Motion of the Eye, for it is necessary for the Eye to move this way, and that way, in order to adjust it self to the Objects it would view; so by this Figure it is well prepared for such Motions, so that it can with great Facility and Dexterity direct it self as occasion requires.

And as the Figure, so no less commodious is,

2. The _Situation_ of the Eye, namely in the Head[d], the most erect, eminent Part of the Body, near the most sensible, vital Part, the Brain. By its Eminence in the Body, it is prepar’d to take in the more[e] Objects. And by its Situation in the Head, besides its Proximity to the Brain, it is in the most convenient Place for Defence and Security. In the Hands, it might indeed (in Man) be render’d more eminent than the Head, and be turned about here and there at pleasure. But then it would be exposed to many Injuries in that active Part, and the Hands[f] render’d a less active and useful Part. And the like may be said to its Sight, in any other Part of the Body, but where it is. But in the Head, both of Man, and other Animals, it is placed in a Part that seems to be contrived, and made chiefly for the Action of the principal Senses.

Another Thing observable in the Sight of the Eye, is the Manner of its Situation in the Head, in the Fore-part, or Side-part thereof; according to the particular Occasions of particular Animals. In Man, and some other Creatures, it is placed to look directly forward chiefly; but withal it is so order’d, as to take in near the Hemisphere before it. In Birds, and some other Creatures, the Eyes are so seated, as to take in near a whole Sphere, that they may the better seek their Food, and escape Dangers. And in some Creatures they are seated, so as to see best behind them[g], or on each Side, whereby they are enabled to see their Enemy that pursues them that way, and so make their Escape.

And for the Assistance of the Eyes, and some of the other Senses in their Actions; the Head is generally made to turn here and there, and move as Occasion requires. Which leads me to the

3. Thing to be remarked upon, the _Motions_ of the Eye it self. And this is generally upwards, downwards, backwards, forwards, and every way[h], for the better, more easy, and distinct Reception of the visual Rays.

But where Nature any way deviateth from this Method, either by denying Motion to the Eyes, or the Head[i], it is a very wonderful Provision she hath made in the Case. Thus for a Remedy of this Inconvenience, in some Creatures their Eyes are set out at a Distance[k] from the Head, to be circumvolved here and there, or one this, the other that way, at Pleasure. And in Creatures, whose Eyes are without Motion, as in divers Insects; in this Case, either they have more than two Eyes, or their Eyes are nearly two protuberant Hemispheres, and each Hemisphere often consisting of a prodigious number of other little Segments of a Sphere[l]. By which Means those Creatures are so far from being deny’d any Benefit, of that noble and most necessary Sense of Sight, that they have probably more of it than other Creatures, answerable to the Rapidity of their Flight, and brisk Motion; and to their Inquests after Food, Habitation, or Repositories of Generation, or such other Necessity of the Animal.

4. Another admirable Provision in the Eye, is, its Size; in some Animals large, in some little. It would be endless here to enumerate Particulars; as thole of Quadrupeds, Birds, Insects, and other terrestrial Animals. And as for Fishes, they will fall under another Part of my Survey.

I shall therefore only take Notice of its Size in one Creature, the _Mole_[m]. As the Habitation of that uncouth Animal is wholly subterraneous, its Lodging, its Food, its Exercises, nay, even all its Pastimes and Pleasures, are in those subterraneous Recesses and Passages, which its own Industry hath made for it self; so it is an admirable Provision made in the Size of the Eye of that little Creature, to answer all its Occasions, and at the same time to prevent Inconveniences. For as a little Light will suffice an Animal living always under Ground; so the smallest Eye will abundantly supply that Occasion. And as a large protuberant Eye, like that of other Animals, would much annoy this Creature in its principal Business, of digging for its Food and Passage; so it is endow’d with a very small one, commodiously seated in the Head, and well fenced and guarded against the Annoyances of the Earth.

5. Another Thing remarkable in this noble Part of Animals, is, its _Numbers_; no less than two[n] in any Instance, that I know of; and in some Animals more, as I have already hinted[o].

Now this is an admirable Provision; first, for the Convenience of taking in the larger Angle or Space: And in the next Place, the Animal is by this Provision, in some Measure prepar’d for the Misfortune of the Loss of one of these noble, and necessary Organs of its Body.

But then besides all this, there is another Thing considerable in this multiplicate Number of the Eye; and that is, that the Object seen is not multiplied as well as the Organ, and appears but one, though seen with two or more Eyes[p]. A manifest Sign of the infinite Skill of the Contriver of this so noble a Part, and of the exquisite Art he employed in the Formation thereof. But the Design and Skill of the infinite Workman, will best be set forth by

6. Surveying the _Parts_ and _Mechanism_ of this admirable Organ the Eye. And here indeed we cannot but stand amazed, when we view its admirable Fabrick, and consider the prodigious Exactness, and the exquisite Skill employed in every part ministring to this noble and necessary Sense. To pass by its Arteries and Veins, and such other Parts common to the rest of the Body, let us cast our Eye on its _Muscles_. These we shall find exactly and neatly placed for every Motion of the Eye. Let us view its _Tunicks_, and these we shall find so admirably seated, so well adapted, and of so firm a Texture, as to fit every Place, to answer every Occasion, and to be Proof against all common Inconveniences and Annoyances. Let us examine its three _Humours_, and these we shall find all of exquisite Clearness and Transparency, for an easy Admission of the Rays; well placed for the refracting of them, and formed (particularly the _Crystalline Humour_) by the nicest Laws of Opticks, to collect the wandring Rays into a Point. And to name no more, let us look into its darkned Cell, where those curious Humours lie, and into which the Glories of the Heavens and the Earth are brought, and exquisitely pictured; and this Cell we shall find, without, well prepared by Means of its Texture, Aperture, and Colour, to fence off all the useless or noxious Rays; and within, as well coated with a dark Tegument, that it may not reflect, dissipate, or any way confuse or disturb the beneficial Rays[q].

But to descend to Particulars, although it would be a great Demonstration of the Glory of God, yet would take up too much Time, and hath been in some Measure done by others that have written of God’s Works. Passing over therefore what they have observed, I shall under each principal Part take a transient Notice of some Things they have omitted, or but slightly spoken of.

And my first Remark shall be concerning the _Muscles_ of the Eye, and their Equilibration. Nothing can be more manifestly an act of Contrivance and Design, than the _Muscles_ of the Eye, admirably adapted to move it any, and every way; upwards, downwards, to this side or that, or howsoever we please, or there is occasion for, so as to always keep that Parallelism of the Eye, which is necessary to true Vision. For the Performance of which Service, the Form, the Position, and the due Strength of each Muscle is admirable. And here I might Instance the peculiar and artificial Structure of the _Trochlearis_, and the Augmentation of its Power by the _Trochlea_[r]; the Magnitude and Strength of the _Attollent Muscle_, somewhat exceeding that of its Antagonist; the peculiar Muscle, called the _Seventh_, or _Suspensory Muscle_[s], given to Brutes, by reason of the prone Posture of their Bodies, and frequent Occasions to hang down their Heads: And I might speak also of the peculiar Origine and Insertion of the _lower Oblique Muscle_[t], which is very notable, and many other Things relating to these Parts; but it would be tedious to descend too much to those admirable Particulars. And therefore to close up these Remarks, all I shall farther take Notice of, shall be only the exquisite Equilibration of all these _Opposite_ and _Antagonist Muscles_, affected partly by the Equality of the Strength; which is the Case of the _Adducent_ and _Abducent Muscles_; partly by their peculiar Origine, or the Addition of the _Trochlea_, which is the Case of the _Oblique Muscles_[u]: and partly by the natural Posture of the Body, and the Eye, which is the Case of the _Attollent_ and _Depriment Muscles_. By this so curious and exact a Libration, not only unseemly Contortions, and incommodious Vagations of the Eye are prevented, but also it is able with great Readiness and Exactness to apply it self to every Object.

As to the _Tunicks_ of the Eye, many Things might be taken notice of, the prodigious Fineness of the _Arachnoïdes_, the acute Sense of the _Retina_, the delicate Transparency of the _Cornea_[w], and the firm and strong Texture of that and the _Sclerotica_ too; and each of them, in these and every other respect, in the most accurate manner adapted to the Place in which it is, and the Business it is there to perform. But for a Sample, I shall only take notice of that part of the _Uvea_ which makes the _Pupil_. It hath been observed by others, particularly by our Honourable Founder[x], That as we are forced to use various Apertures to our Optick Glasses, so Nature hath made a far more compleat Provision in the Eyes of Animals, to shut out too much, and to admit sufficient Light, by the Dilatation and Contraction of the Pupil[y]. But it deserveth our especial Remark, that these Pupils are in divers Animals of divers Forms, according to their peculiar Occasions. In some (particularly in Man) it is round; that being the most proper Figure for the Position of our Eyes, and the Use we make of them both by Day and Night. In some other Animals it is of a longish Form; in some Transverse[z], with its Aperture large, which is an admirable Provision for such Creatures to see the better laterally, and thereby avoid Inconveniencies, as well as help them to gather their Food on the Ground, both by Day and Night. In other Animals the Fissure of the Pupil is erect[aa], and also capable of opening wide, and shutting up close. The latter of which serveth to exclude the brighter Light of the Day, and the former to take in the more faint Rays of the Night, thereby enabling those Nocturnal Animals (in whom generally this erect Form of the Pupil is) to catch their Prey with the greater Facility in the dark[bb], to see upwards and downwards, to climb, _&c_. Thus much for the _Tunicks_.

The next Thing I shall take notice of, will relate to the _Humours_ of the Eye, and that only concerning the Mechanism of the _Crystalline Humour_; not its incomparable Transparency; nor its exact lenticular Form; nor its curious araneous Membrane[cc], that constringeth and dilateth it, and so varieth its _Focus_, (if any such Variation there be, as some affirm with great Probability,) nor lastly, its admirable Approach to or from the _Retina_, by help of the _Ciliar Ligament_[dd], according as Objects are far off or near, because these Things are what are usually taken notice of; but that which I shall observe is, the prodigious Art and Finery of its constituent Parts, it being, according to some late nice Microscopical Observations[ee], composed of divers thin Scales, and these made up of one single minutest Thread or Fibre, wound round and round, so as not to cross one another in any one Place, and yet to meet, some in two, and some in more different Centers; a Web not to be woven, an _Optick Lens_, not to be wrought by any Art less than infinite Wisdom.

_Lastly_, To conclude the Parts of this admirable Organ, I shall make only one Remark more, and that is about its _Nerves_. And here, among others, the admirable Make of the _Optick Nerves_ might deserve to be taken notice of in the first Place, their _Medullary_ Part[ff] terminating in the Brain it self, the Teguments propagated from the _Meninges_, and terminating in the Coats of the Eye, and their commodious Insertions into the Ball of the Eye, in some directly opposite to the Pupil of the Eye, in others obliquely towards one Side[gg]. But most of these Things have been treated of, and the Convenience hereof set forth by others that have written of God’s Works. I shall therefore take notice only of one wise Provision the Creator hath made about the Motion of the Eye, by uniting into one the _Third Pair_ of Nerves, called the _Motory Nerves_[hh], each of which sending its Branches into each Muscle of each Eye, would cause a Distortion in the Eyes; but being united into one, near their Insertion into the Brain, do thereby cause both Eyes to have the same Motion; so that when one Eye is moved this way and that way, to this and that Object, the other Eye is turned the same way also.

Thus from this transient and slight View (I may call it) of the Parts of the Eye, it appears what an admirable Artist was the Contriver thereof. And now in the

_Seventh_ and last Place, Let us consider what Provision this admirable Artist hath made for the _Guard_ and _Security_ of this so well formed Organ[ii]. And here we shall find the Guard equivalent to the Use and Excellency of the Part. The whole Organ fortified and fenced with strong, compact Bones, lodged in a strong, well made Socket, and the Eye it self guarded with a nice made Cover[kk]. Its Humours, and its inward Tunicks, are indeed tender, proportionate to their tender, curious Uses; but the Coats without, are context and callous, firm and strong. And in some Animals, particularly Birds[ll], some Part of those Tunicles have the Nature and Hardness of Bone or Horn.

But for Creatures, whose Eyes, like the rest of their Body, are tender, and without the Guard of Bones; there Nature hath provided for this necessary and tender Sense, a wonderful kind of Guard, by endowing the Creature with a Faculty of withdrawing its Eyes into its Head[mm], and lodging them in the same Safety with the Body.

Thus have I survey’d this first Sense of Animals, I may say in a cursory, not accurate, strict manner, considering the prodigious Workmanship thereof; but so, as abundantly to demonstrate it to be the Contrivance, the Work of no less a Being than the infinite Wise, Potent, and Indulgent Creator[nn]. For none less could compose so admirable an Organ, so adapt all its Parts, so adjust it to all Occasions, so nicely provide for every Use, and for every Emergency: In a word, none less than GOD, could, I say, thus contrive, order, and provide an Organ, as magnificent and curious as the Sense is useful; a Sense without which, as all the Animal World would be in perpetual Darkness, so it would labour under perpetual Inconveniencies, be exposed to perpetual Harms, and suffer perpetual Wants and Distresses. But now by this admirable Sense, the great GOD, who hath placed us in this World, hath as well provided for our comfortable Residence in it; enabled us to see and chuse wholsome, yea delicate Food, to provide our selves useful, yea gaudy Cloathing, and commodious Places of Habitation and Retreat. We can now dispatch our Affairs with Alacrity and Pleasure, go here and there as our Occasions call us. We can, if need be, ransack the whole Globe, penetrate into the Bowels of the Earth, descend to the bottom of the Deep, travel to the farthest Regions of this World, to acquire Wealth, to encrease our Knowledge, or even only to please our Eye and Fancy. We can now look about us, discern and shun the Precipices and Dangers which every where enclose us, and would destroy us. And those glorious Objects which fill the Heavens and the Earth, those admirable Works of God which every where surround us, and which would be as nothing to us, without being seen, do by means of this noble Sense present their Glories to us[oo], and fill us with Admiration and Pleasure. But I need not expatiate in the Usefulness and Praises of this Sense, which we receive the Benefit of every Moment, and the want, or any defect of which, we lament among our greatest Misfortunes.

Leaving then this Sense, I shall proceed to the other four, but more briefly treat of them, by reason we have so ample a Sample of the divine Art in the last, and may presume that the same is exerted in all as well as one. For a Demonstration of which, let us in the next Place carry our Scrutiny to the Sense of _Hearing_.

[Illustration]

FOOTNOTES:

[a] _In Dissectionibus anatomicis vix aliquid admirabilius, aut artificiosius structurâ Oculi humani, meo quidem judicio, occurrit: ut meritò, per excellentiam, Creatoris appelletur Miraculum._ Gul. Fabr. Hildan. Cent. 2. Observ. 1.

So likewise that accurate Surveyor of the Eye, Dr. _Briggs_, whose _Ophthalmography_ I have met with since my penning this part of my Survey. His Character of this curious piece of God’s Work is, _Inter præcipuas corporis animati partes, quæ magni Conditoris nostri sapientiam ostendunt, nulla sanè reperitur, quæ majori pompâ elucet quàm ipse Oculus, aut quæ elegantiori formâ concinnatur. Deum enim aliæ partes vel minori satellitio stipantur, vel in tantam venustatem haud assurgunt; Ocelli peculiarem honorem & decus à supremo Numine efflatum referunt, & nunquam non stupendæ suæ Potentia characteres repræsentant. Nulla sanè pars tam divino artificio & ordine, ~&c.~_ Cap. 1. §. 1.

[b] It is a good Reason _Frier Bacon_ assigns for the Sphæricity of the Eye: _Nam si esset planæ figuræ, species rei majoris oculo non posset cadere perpendiculariter super eum——Cùm ergò Oculus videt magna corpora, ut ferè quartam cœli uno aspectu, manifestum est, quòd non potest esse planæ figuræ, nec alicujus nisi sphæricæ, quoniam super sphæram parvam possunt cadere perpendiculares infinitæ, quæ à magno corpore veniunt, & tendunt in centrum Sphæræ: Et sic magnum corpus potest ab oculo parvo videri._ For the Demonstration of which he hath given us a Figure. _Rog. Bacon. Perspect. Distinct. 4. Cap. 4._

Dr. _Briggs_ saith, _Pars antica, (sive Cornea,) convexior est posticâ: hâc enim ratione radii meliùs in pupillam detorquentur, & Oculi fundus ex altarâ parte in majorem (propter imagines rerum ibidem delineandos) expanditur._ Ibid. §. 2.

[c] Suppose the Eye had the _Retina_, or back part flat for the Reception of the Images, as in _Fig. 1._ ABA: it is manifest, that if the Extremes of the Image AA were at a due focal distance, the middle B would be too nigh the Crystalline, and consequently appear confused and dim; but all Parts of the _Retina_ lying at a due focal distance from the Crystalline, as at ACA, therefore the Image painted thereon is seen distinct and clear. Thus in a dark Room, with a Lens at a Hole in the Window, (which _Sturmius_ calls his Artificial Eye, in his _Exercit. Acad._ one of which he had made for his Pupils, to run any where on Wheels). In this Room, I say, if the Paper that receives the Images be too nigh, or too far off the Lens, the Image will be confused and dim; but in the Focus of the Glass, distinct, clear, and a pleasant Sight.

[d] _Blemmyis traduntur capita abesse, Ore & Oculis pectori affixis._ Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 8. _Occidentem versus quosdam sine cervice Oculos in humeris habentes._ Ib. l. 7. c. 2. From these, and other such like Fables, in this last cited Chapter of _Pliny_, no doubt our famous Romancer Sir _J. Mandevile_, had his Romnantick Stories related in his Travels.

[e] See _Book V. Chap. 2. Note (e)._

[f] _Galen_ deserves to be here consulted, who in his Book _De Usu Partium_, from many Considerations of the Hand, such as what is here mentioned, as also its Structure, Site and Use, largely proves and reflects upon the Wisdom and Providence of the Contriver and Maker of that Part.

[g] Thus in _Hares_ and _Conies_, their Eyes are very protuberant, and placed so much towards the sides of their Head, that their two Eyes take in nearly a whole Sphere: Whereas in _Dogs_, (that pursue them) the Eyes are set more forward in the Head, to look that way more than backward.

[h] _Sed lubricos Oculos fecit ~[Natura]~ & mobiles, ut & declinarent siquid noceret; & aspectum, quo vellent, facile converterent_. Cicer. de Nat. Deor. l. 2. c. 57.

[i] _The Eyes of ~Spiders~, ~(in some four, in some six, and in some eight)~ are placed all in the fore-front of their Head, (which is round, and without any Neck) all diaphanous and transparent, like a Locket of Diamonds, ~&c.~ neither wonder why Providence should be so anomalous in this Animal, more than in any other we know of. For, 1. Since they wanting a Neck, cannot move their Head, it is requisite that Defect should be supplied by the multiplicity of Eyes. 2. Since they were to live by catching so nimble a Prey as a Fly is, they ought to see her every way, and to take her ~per saltum~, (as they do) without any Motion of the Head to discover her: Which Motion would have scared away so timorous an Insect._ _~Power~’s_ Micros. Observ. pag. 11.

_The Eyes of the ~Cameleon~ resemble a Lens, or Convex Glass, set in a versatile globular Socket, which she turneth backward, or any way, without moving her Head; and ordinarily the one a contrary, or quite different way from the other._ Dr. _Goddard_ in Phil. Tran. Nᵒ. 137.

_But what is more extraordinary in this Motion ~[of the Cameleon’s Eye]~ is to see one of the Eyes move, whilst the other remains immoveable; and the one to turn forward, at the same time that the other looketh behind; the one to look up to the Sky, when the other is fixed on the Ground. And these Motions to be so extreme, that they do carry the ~Pupilla~ under the Crest which makes the Eye-brow, and so far into the ~Canthi~, or Corners of the Eyes, that the Sight can discern whatever is done just behind it, and directly before, without turning the Head, which is fastned to the Shoulders._ Mem. for a Nat. Hist. in Anatom. Dissect. at Paris. Diss. of Camel. pag. 22.

[k] _Snails_ send out their Eyes at a distance, they being contained in their four Horns, _like atramentous Spots, fitted to the end of their Horns, or rather to the ends of those black Filaments or optick Nerves, which are sheathed in her Horns_, as Dr. _Power_ wordeth it. _Obs. 31. pag. 36._ So the ingenious Dr. _Lister_. _Exercit. Anat. Cochl. & Limac._

[l] _Vid._ _l. 8. c. 3. Note (a)._

[m] _Severinus_ is of _Aristotle_’s, _Pliny_’s, and _Alb. Magnus_’s Opinion, that the _Mole_ hath no Sight; _G. Seger_ denies any Humour to be therein, but thinks they may probably see, because Nature made nothing in vain. But _Borrichius_ saith, their Eyes have _appendiculam nerveam in cerebrum euntem, cujus beneficio globuli illi ~[the little Eyes]~ extra pellem facilè poterant exseri, retrahique pro arbitrio——In illis oculorum globulis humor aqueus copiose satis natabat; cæterorum non nisi tenue vestigiem._ Blas. Anat. Anim. c. 35.

_Et quoniam Natura hoc vitæ genus ipsi destinavit, etiam perquàm exiguos Oculos——dedit eo concilio, ut ii, pretiosissima corporis pars, à terræ pulvere nè affligerentur. Ii insuper pilis recti, ~&c.~ Humores illis oculis insunt, & tunica nigra, uvea, se prodit. Ad hos tramite alio nervus venit._ Schneider in Blas. ibid.

Some time since I made divers accurate Dissections of the _Eyes_ of _Moles_, with the help of Microscopes, having a doubt whether what we take to be Eyes, were such or no. And upon a strict Scrutiny I plainly could distinguish the _Vitreous_ and _Crystalline_ Humours, yea, the _Ligamentum Ciliare_, and the atramentaceous _Mucus_. The _Pupil_ I could manifestly discern to be round, and the _Cornea_ copped, or conical: The Eye is at a great distance from the Brain, the Optick Nerve very slender and long, reaching from the Eye through the intermediate Flesh, and so passeth to the Brain, along with the pair of Nerves reaching to the Nose, which are much the largest that are in all the Animal. These Creatures, I imagine, have the Faculty of withdrawing their Eyes, if not quite into the Head, (as _Snails_) yet more or less within the Hair, as they have more or less Occasion to use or guard their Eyes.

_Galen_ saith, _Moles_ have Eyes, the _Crystalline_ and _Vitreous_ Humours, encompassed with _Tunicks_. _De Us. Part. l. 14. c. 6._ So accurate an Anatomist was he for his Time.

[n] _Pliny_ tells us of a sort of _Heron_ with but one Eye, but ’twas only by hear-say. _Inter Aves Ardeolarum genere, quos Leucos vocant, altero oculo carere tradunt._ Nat. Hist. l. 11. c. 37. So the King of the _Nigræ_ that hath but one Eye, and that in his Forehead, _l. 6. c. 30._ Which Fables I take notice of more for the Reader’s Diversion, than any Truth in them.

[o] _Supra_, _Note (i)._

[p] The most celebrated Anatomists differ greatly about the Reason why we see not double with two Eyes. This _Galen_, and others after him, generally thought to be from a Coalition or Decussation of the Optick Nerves, behind the _Os Sphenoïdes_. But whether they decussate, coalesce, or only touch one another, they do not well agree. The _Bartholines_ expressly assert they are united, _non per simplicem contactum vel intersectionem in homine, sed totalem substantiæ confusionem_, Anat. l. 3. c. 2. And whereas _Vesalius_, and some others had found some Instances of their being disunited; they say, _sed in plerisque ordinarie confunditur interior substantia, ut accuratâ disquisitione deprehendi_.

But our Learned Dr. _Gibson_, (_Anat. l. 3. c. 10._) saith, they _are united by the closest Conjunction, but not Confusion of their Fibres_.

But others think the Reason is not from any Coalescence, Contact, or crossing of the Optick Nerves, but from a Sympathy between them. Thus Monsieur _Cartes_ is of Opinion, that the _Fibrillæ_ constituting the medullary Part of those Nerves, being spread in the _Retina_ of each Eye, have each of them corresponding Parts in the Brain; so that when any of those _Fibrillæ_ are struck by any part of an Image, the corresponding Parts of the Brain are thereby affected, and the Soul thereby informed, _&c._ but see more hereafter under _Note (oo)_, from _Cartes_ himself.

Somewhat like this is the Notion of our judicious Dr. _Briggs_, who thinks the Optick Nerves of each Eye consist of _Homologous Fibres_, having their rise in the _Thalamus Nervorum Opticorum_, and thence continued to both the _Retinæ_, which are made of them; And farther, that those _Fibrillæ_ have the same Parallelism, Tension, _&c._ in both Eyes; and consequently when an Image is painted on the same corresponding, sympathizing Parts of each _Retina_, the same Effects are produced, the same Notice or Information is carried to the _Thalamus_, and so imparted to the Soul, or judging Faculty. That there is such an Ὁμοιοπάθεια between the _Retina_, &c. he makes very probable from the ensuing of double Vision upon the Interruption of the Parallelism of the Eyes; as when one Eye is depressed with the Finger, or their Symphony interrupted by Disease, Drunkenness, _&c._ And lastly, That simple Vision is not made in the former way, _viz._ by a Decussation or Conjunction of the Optick Nerves, he proves, because those Nerves are but in few Subjects decussated, and in none conjoined otherwise than by a bare Contact, which is particularly manifest in Fishes; and in some Instances it hath been found, that they have been separated without any double Vision ensuing thereupon. _Vid._ _Brig. Ophthalmogr._ cap. 11. & 5. and _Nov. Vis. Theor._ _passim_.

What the Opinion of our justly eminent Sir _Isaac Newton_ is, may be seen in his _Opticks_, Qu. 15. _Are not the Species of Objects seen with both Eyes, united where the Optick Nerves meet before they come into the Brain, the Fibres on the right side of both Nerves uniting there, ~&c.~ For the Optick Nerves of such Animals as look the same way with both Eyes, (as of Men, Dogs, Sheep, Oxen, ~&c.~) meet before they come into the Brain; but the Optick Nerves of such Animals as do not look the same way with both Eyes, (as of Fishes and of the Cameleon) do not meet, if I am rightly informed._ Newt. Opt. Q. 15.

[q] _Nigra est ~[Uvea]~ ut radios (ab Oculi fundo ad anteriorem ejus partem reflexos) obumbret; nè hi (ut ait clar. Cartesius) ad Oculi fundum retorti ibidem confusam visionem efficerent. Alia forsan ratio hujus nigredinis statuatur, quòd radii in visione superflui, qui ab objectis lateralibus proveniunt hoc ritu absorbeantur. Ita enim è loco obscuro interdiu objecta optimè intuemur, quia radii tunc temporis circumfuso lumine non diluuntur._ Brigg’s Ophthal. c. 3. §. 5.

[r] _Admirandum Dei artificium ex diversorum animalium comparatione indies evadit manifestiùs. Mirantur omnes Trochlearem in oculis Hominum & Quadrupedum, & quidem jure: sed admirationem omnem superat, quòd sine Trochleâ oculum movens in Avibus novum genus Trochleæ longè artificiosiùs Nictitandi Membranæ dederit._ Blas. Anat. Animal. p. 2. c. 4. _ex Stenon._

_~[Musculum Trochlearem]~ per intermedium trochleam traductum, nunquam intueor, quin admirabundus mecum, Ὁ Θεὸς, exclamem ὀυ μόνον ἀεὶ γεωμετρεῖ, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀεὶ μηχανᾶται._ _I. C. Sturmii Exercit. Acad. 9. de Vis. Org. & Rat._ c. 3. §. 4. p. 446.

[s] _Observare est quod Quadrupedes, qui oculos in terram pronos, ac pendulos gerunt, Musculum peculiarem habent, quo Oculi globus suspenditur——Hoc Musculo Bos, Equus, Ovis, Lepus, Porcus, &c. præditi sunt: hoc etiam Canis instruitur, sed alio modo conformatum habet._ Willis de An. Brut. p. 1. c. 15.

Of this Opinion also was _Bartholine Anat._ l. 3. c. 8. and divers other eminent Anatomists.

But Dr. _Briggs_ is of Opinion that the _Adnata_, and the other Muscles sufficiently answer all those Ends ascribed to that Muscle by former Anatomists, and thinks _Probabiliùs itaque esse hunc Musculum nervi Optici actionem (per vices) confirmare, nè à prono Brutorum incessu & copioso affluxu humorum debilitetur_, Ophthal. c. 2. §. 2.

The _Musculus Suspensorius_ being in the _Porpess_, as well as Brutes, Dr. _Tyson_ thinks the Use of it is not to suspend the Bulk of the Eye; but rather by its equal Contraction of the _Sclerotis_, to render the Ball of the Eye more or less Spherical, and so fitter for Vision. _Tyson’s Anat. of the Porpess_, p. 39.

[t] _Musculus obliquus inferior oritur à peculiari quodam foramine in latere Orbitæ ocularis facto, (contra quam in cæteris, ~&c.~) quo fit ut ex unâ parte à Musculo trochleari, ex alterâ verò ab hujus Musculi commodissimâ positione, Oculus in æquilibrio quodam constitutus, irretorto obtutu versus objecta feratur, nec plus justo accedat versus internum externumve canthum; quæ quidem Libratio omnino nulla fuisset, absque hujus Musculi peculiari originatione (cujus ratio omnes hucusque Anatomicos latuit)._ And so this curious Anatomist goes on to shew farther the stupendous Artifice of the great Creator in this Position of the _Oblique Muscles_. Brigg’s _Nova Vis. Theor._ p. 11. _meo libro_.

[u] Besides those particular Motions which the Eye receives from the _Oblique Muscles_, and I may add its Libration also in some Measure, some Anatomists ascribe another no less considerable Use to them; namely, to lengthen and shorten the Eye (by squeezing and compressing it) to make it correspond to the Distances of all Objects, according as they are nigh or far off. Thus the ingenious Dr. _Keil_; _The Aqueous Humour being the thinnest and most liquid, easily changeth its Figure, when either the ~Ligamentum Ciliate~ contracts, or both the ~Oblique Muscles~ squeeze the middle of the Ball of the Eye, to render it Oblong when Objects are too near us._ _~Keil~’s Anat. Chap. 4. Sect. 4._ See _Note (y)._

[w] _Quis verò opifex præter Naturam, quâ nihil potest esse callidiùs, tantam solertiam persequi potuisset in Sensibus? quæ primùm Oculos membranis tenuissimis vestivit, & sepiit; quas primum perlucidas fecit, ut per eas cerni posset: firmas aurem, ut continerentur._ Cic. de Nat. Deor. l. 2. c. 57.

[x] _Boyl_ of _Final Causes._

[y] It is easy to be observed, that the _Pupil_ openeth in dark Places; as also when we look at far distant Objects, but contracts by an Increase of Light, and when the Objects are nigh. This Motion of the _Pupil_ some say, is effected by the circular and strait Fibres of the _Uvea_, and some attribute it to the _Ligamentum Ciliare_. Yet I have no great doubt but that they both concur in that Action, and that the _Ligamentum Ciliare_ doth, at the same time the Pupil opens or shuts, dilate or compress the _Crystalline_, and bring it nigher unto, or carry it farther off the _Retina_. For the Structure of the _Ligamentum Ciliare_, and its two Sorts of Fibres, drawn with the Help of a Microscope, I shall refer to Mr. _Cowper’s Anat._ T. 11.

[z] _In Bove, Caprâ, Equo, Ove, & quibusdam aliis elliptica est ~(Pupilla)~ ut eo magis in hisce forsan animalibus, quæ prono incessu victum in agris quæritant, radios laterales ad mala & incommoda utrinque devitanda admittat._ _~Briggs~’s Ophthal._ c. 7. §. 6.

_Homini erecto, aliisque, ~&c.~ caput erigere, & quaquaversus circumspicere solitis, plurima simul objecta, tum suprà, tum infrà, tum è latere utroque——visu excipiuntur; quapropter Oculi Pupilla rotunda esse debet.——Attamen bovi, ~&c.~ caput ferè semper pronum——gerentibus, tantùm quæ coràm, & paulo à latere obversantur, intuitu opus est: quapropter Pupilla——oblonga est, ~&c.~_ Willis _de Anim. Brut._ p. 1. c. 15.

[aa] Thus _Cats_ (their Pupils being erect, and the shutting of their Eye-lids transverse thereunto) can so close their Pupil, as to admit of, as it were, one only single Ray of Light; and by throwing all open, they can take in all the faintest Rays. Which is an incomparable Provision for these Animals, that have occasion to watch and way-lay their Prey both by Day and Night.

[bb] There is besides this large opening of the Pupil, in some nocturnal Animals, another admirable Provision, enabling them to catch their Prey in the Dark; and that is a Radiation of the Eyes: Of which Dr. _Willis_ thus; _Hujus usus est Oculi Pupillam, quasi jubare insito, illuminare, ut res noctu, & in tenebris positas conspicere valeat: quare in Fele plurimùm illustris est: at Homini, Avibus, & Piscibus deest._ This Illumination he speaks of, is from the _Tapetum_, in the Bottom of the Eye, or the shining of the _Retina_, round the optick Nerve.

Besides which, he saith, the _Iris_ hath a Faculty also, in some, of darting out Rays of Light, so as to enable them to see in the Dark: Of which he tells this Story; _Novi quendam cerebro calidiori præditum, qui post uberiorem vini generosi potum in nocte atratâ, sive tenebris profundis, literas distincte legere potuit. Cujus ratio videtur esse, quòd spiritus animales velut accensi, adeòque ab hâc Iride irradiantes, jubare infito Medium illuminabant._ Willis Ibid.

Such another Thing, _Pliny_ tells us, was reported of _Tiberius Cæsar_: _Ferunt Tib. Cæs. nec alii genitorum mortalium, fuisse naturam, ut expergefactus noctu paulisper, haud alio modo quam luce clarâ, contueretur omnia._ Nat. Hist. l. 11. c. 37.

So Dr. _Briggs_: _Virum sanè calidæ indolis novi in Comitatu Bedfordiensi degentem, qui oculis felineis——donatus est: adeò ut epistolam——mirè admodùm in loco obscuro (ubi eadem mihi vix apparuit) perlegit. Hujus verò Oculi (nisi quod Pupillas insigniores obsinuere) ab aliorum formatione neutiquam discrepabant._ Ophthal. c. 5. §. 12.

[cc] The _Tunica Aranea_ is taken notice of by _Frier Bacon_, who calls it, _Tela Aranea_, and saith, _in hâc continetur——glaciale vel Crystallinum_. _~Rog. Bacon~’s Perspect. Distinct. 2. c. 3._ The wrinkling of this, and the _Cornea_ (as the Skin is of old Persons) he thinks is the Cause of the Obscurity of the Sight in such Persons. _Bacon_ Ib. par. 2. cap. 2. But this _Tunick_ some deny, and others allow of: Dr. _A. M._ of _Trinity-College, Dublin_, (in his _Relat. of Anat. Obs._ in the Eyes of Animals, in a Letter to Mr. _Boyl_, _Ann. 1682._ annexed to his _Anat. Account of the Elephant burnt in ~Dublin~_, p. 57.) affirms the _Tunica Aranea_, and saith, _I have often seen it before ’twas exposed to the Air one Minute, notwithstanding what Dr. ~Briggs~ saith to the contrary, ~&c.~_ But Dr. _Briggs_ his Opinion is, _Humor Crystallinus, nisi aeri diutiùs expositus, vel lenitèr coctus (instar lactis) cuticulam non acquirit: quæ verò impropriè, Tunica Aranea dicitur, cùm si tantùm adventitia, ut in Oculo Bovis recens execto appareat._ _~Briggs~’s Ophthalm. c. 3._

The _Crystalline Humour_ being of a double Substance, outwardly like a Gelly, towards the Center as consistent as hard Suet, upon occasion whereof its Figure may be varied; which Variation may be made by the _Ligamentum Ciliare_; Dr. _Grew_ doth, upon these Accounts, not doubt to ascribe to the _Ligamentum Ciliare_, a Power of making the _Crystalline_ more Convex, as well as of moving it to, or from the _Retina_. See _Grew_’s _Cosmolog. Sacr._ l. 1. c. 4. Now it is certain by the Laws of Opticks, that somewhat of this is absolutely necessary to distinct Vision, inasmuch as the Rays proceeding from nigh Objects do more diverge, and those from distant Objects less: Which requires either that the _Crystalline Humour_ should be made more Convex, or more flat; or else an Elongation, or shortning of the Eye, or of the Distance between the _Crystalline Humour_ and the _Retina_.

But although Dr. _Briggs_ (so good a Judge) denies the _Tunica Crystallina_, contrary to the Opinion of most former Anatomists; yet there is great Reason to conclude he was in a Mistake, in my Opinion, from the Observations of the _French Anatomists_, of the _Crystalline_ of the Eye, of the _Gemp_ or _Chamois_, who say, _The Membrana Arachnoïdes was very thick, and hard, so that it was easily separated from the Crystallinus_, p. 145.

The same Anatomists also favour the Surmise of Dr. _Grew_, This [Contraction of the Fibres of the _Ligamentum Ciliare_ on one side, and Dilatation on the other] _would make us think that these Fibres of the ~Ligamentum Ciliare~, are capable of Contraction, and voluntary Dilatation, like that of the Fibres of the Muscles; and that this Action may augment, or diminish the Convexity of the ~Crystallinus~, according as the Need which the Distance of the Objects may make it to have on the Eye, to see more clearly and distinctly._ Anat. Descrip. of a _Bear_, p. 49.

Since my penning the foregoing Notes, having as critically as I could, dissected many Eyes of Birds, Beasts and Fishes, I manifestly found the _Membrana Arachnoïdes_, and will undertake to shew it any one, with great Ease and Certainty. It is indeed so transparent, as not to be seen distinct from the _Crystalline_. But if the _Cornea_ and _Uvea_ be taken off before, or the _vitreous Humour_ behind it, and the out-side of the _Crystalline_ be gently cut, the _Arachnoïdes_ may be seen to open, and the _Crystalline_ will easily leap out, and part from the _Ligamentum Ciliare_; which otherwise it would not do: For it is by the _Arachnoïdes_ braced to the _Ligamentum Ciliare_. This Membrane or Tunick, in the Ox, is so substantial and strong, though thin, that it yields to, or sinks under the sharpest Lancet, and requires (for so thin and weak a Membrane in appearance) a strong Pressure to pierce it.

[dd] As Birds and Fishes are in divers Things conformable, so in some sort they are in their Eye; to enable it to correspond to all the Convergences, and Divergences of the Rays, which the Variations of each of the Mediums may produce. For this Service the _Tunica Choroeides_, (in Fishes) hath a musculous Substance at the Bottom of it, lying round the optick Nerve, at a small Distance from it; by which Means I imagine they are able to contract, and dilate the _Choroeides_, and thereby to lengthen and shorten the Eye: For the helping in which Service, I imagine it is that the _Choroeides_, and _Sclerotica_, are in a great Measure parted, that the _Choroeides_ may have the greater Liberty of acting upon the Humours within.

But in Birds, I have my self found, that although the _Choroeides_ be parted from the _Sclerotica_; yet the _Choroeides_ hath no Muscle, but instead thereof, a curious pectinated Work, seated on the optick Nerve, represented in _Fig. 2._ In which _c.a.e.b.d._ represents the _Choroeides_ and _Sclerotica_: _a.b._ the Part of the _optick Nerve_, that is within the Eye: _v.v.v._ the _vitreous Humour_: _a.f.g.b._ the _Pecten_: _h.i._ the _Crystalline_. For the Reception of this _Pecten_, the _optick Nerve_ comes farther within the Eye, than in other Creatures. The Structure of this _Pecten_, is very like that of the _Ligamentum Ciliare_; and in the Eye of a _Magpy_, and some others, I could perceive it to be musculous towards the Bottom. This _Pecten_ is so firmly fixed unto, or embodied in the _vitreous Humour_, that the _vitreous Humour_ hangs firmly to it, and is not so easily parted from it. By which Means all the Motions of the _Pecten_ are easily communicated to the _vitreous Humour_, and indeed to all contained in the _Choroeides_. And forasmuch as the _Crystalline_ is connected to the _vitreous Humour_, therefore also the Alterations in the _vitreous Humour_ affect also the _Crystalline_; and the _Crystalline_ is hereby brought nearer unto, or farther from the _Retina_, as occasion is. Besides all which Observables in the _Choroeides_, and inner Eye, I have also found this farther remarkable in the _Sclerotica_, and outer-part of the Eye of Birds, _viz._ That the fore-part of the _Sclerotica_ is horny and hard, the middle-part thin and flexible, and _Braces_ intervene between the fore and hind-part, running between the _Choroeides_ and _Sclerotica_; by which Means the _Cornea_, and back-part of the Eye, are brought to the same Conformity, that the rest of the Eye hath.

The great End and Design of this singular and curious _Apparatus_ in the Eyes, both of Birds and Fishes, I take to be, 1. To enable those Creatures to see at all Distances, far off, or nigh; which (especially in the Waters) requireth a different Conformation of the Eye. In Birds also, this is of great Use, to enable them to see their Food at their Bill’s End, or to reach the utmost Distances their high Flights enable them to view; as to see over great Tracts of Sea or Land, whither they have occasion to fly; or to see their Food or Prey, even small Fishes in the Waters, and Birds, Worms, _&c._ on the Earth, when they sit upon Trees, high Rocks, or are hovering high in the Air. 2. To enable those Animals to adapt their Eye to all the various Refractions of their _Medium_. Even the Air it self varies the Refractions, according as it is rarer or denser, more or less compressed; as is manifest from the learned and ingenious Mr. _Lowthorp_’s Experiment in _Phil. Trans._ Nᵒ. 257. and some other Experiments since of the before-commended Mr. _Hawksbee_, both in natural, rarify’d and compressed Air; in each of which, the Refractions constantly varied in exact Proportion to the Rarity or Density of the Air. _Vid._ _Hawksbee_’s _Exp._ pag. 175, _&c._

Besides this Conformity in general, between the Eyes of Birds and Fishes, _Du Hamel_ tells us of a singular Conformity in the _Cormorant_’s Eye, and that is, that the _Crystalline_ is globous, as in Fishes, to enable it to see and pursue its Prey under Water: Which _J. Faber_, in Mr. _Willoughby_ saith, they do _with wonderful Swiftness, and for a long Time_. Will. Ornithol. p. 329.

[ee] The _Crystalline Humour_, when dry’d, doth manifestly enough appear to be made up of many very thin spherical _Laminæ_, or Scales lying one upon another. Mr. _Lewenhock_ reckons there may be 2000 of them in one _Crystalline_, from the outermost to the Center. Every one of these Scales, he saith, he hath discovered to be made up of one single Fibre, or finest Thread wound, in a most stupendous Manner, this way, and that way, so as to run several Courses, and meet in as many Centers, and yet not to interfere, or cross one another, in any one Place. In _Oxen_, _Sheep_, _Hogs_, _Dogs_ and _Cats_, the Thread spreads into three several Courses, and makes as many Centers: In _Whales_ five; but in _Hares_ and _Rabbets_ only two. In the whole Surface of an _Ox_’s _Crystalline_, he reckons there are more than 12000 Fibres juxtaposited. For the right and clear Understanding of the Manner of which admirable Piece of Mechanism, I shall refer to his Cuts and Descriptions in _Philos. Trans._ Nᵒ. 165. and 293. The Truth hereof I have heard some ingenious Men question; but it is what I my self have seen, and can shew to any Body, with the Help of a good Microscope.

[ff] _S. Malpighi_ observed the Middle of the _optick Nerve_ of the _Sword-Fish_, to be nothing else but a large Membrane, folded according to its Length in many Doubles, almost like a Fan, and invested by the _Dura mater_; whereas in Land-Animals it is a Bundle of Fibres. _V._ _Phil. Trans._ Nᵒ. 27.

[gg] _Certissimum est, quòd in omnibus Oculis humanis (quos saltem mihi dissecare contigit) Nervus opticus Pupillæ è diametro apponitur, ~&c.~ Briggs_’s Ophthal. c. 3. §. 15. Ita _Willis de Anim. Brut._ p. 1. c. 15.

_Nervi Optici in nobis, item in Cane, Fele (& in cateris forsan animalibus calidis) ad fundum Oculi delati Pupilla regioni prospiciunt, dum interim in aliis Quadrupedibus, uti etiam in Piscibus & Volueribus, obliquè semper Tunica Sclerotidi inseruntur. Unde, ~&c.~_ _Willis Ib._ c. 7. §. 11.

[hh] _This Pair is united at its Rise; whence is commonly drawn a Reason why one Eye being mov’d towards an Object, the other is directed also to the same._ Gibson’s Anat. _Book III. Chap. 11._ So _Bartholine Anat._ Libellus 3. c. 2.

[ii] Among all the other Security the Eye hath, we may reckon the Reparation of the _aqueous Humour_; by which Means the Eye when wounded, and that in all Appearance very dangerously too, doth often recover its Sight: Of which _Bern. Verzascha_ gives divers Examples ancient and modern. One is from _Galen_, of a Boy so wounded, that the _Cornea_ fell, and became flaccid, but yet recovered his Sight. Other such like Instances also he gives from _Realdus Columbus_, _Rhodius_, and _Tulpius_; and one that he cured himself in these Words, _Ego in Nobilissimi viri filiolâ similem casum observavi: hæc dum levibus de causis cum fratre altercaret, iste iracundiâ percitus cultellum Scriptorium apprehendit, & sororis oculo vulnus infligit, inde humor aqueus effluxit. Vocatus præsentem Chirurgum jussi sequens collyrium anodynum & exsiccans tepidè sæpiùs admovere. ~℞~ aq. Plantag. ~℥iv.~ Rosar. Sanicul. Euphras. ~ana~ Trochisc. alb. Rhaf. cum Opio ~℈ii.~ Tutiæ pp. ~℈i.~ Croci orient. ~℈ss. M.~ Hoc Collyrium inflammationem compescuit, vulnus siccavit & sanavit. Hinc post aliquot menses Humor aqueus succrevit. Nam visus, sed dibilior, cum summo parentum gaudio redivit._ B. Verzaschæ Observ. Medicæ. Obs. 14.

Another Cure of this kind, was experimented by Dr. _Daniel Major_, upon a Goose, Ann. 1670, the _aqueous Humour_ of both whose Eyes they let out, so that the Eyes fell, and the _Goose_ became quite blind: But without the Use of any Medicine, in about two Days Time, Nature repaired the watery Humour again, the Eyes returned to their Former Turgency, and the _Goose_ was in a Week after produced seeing before twenty eight or thirty Spectators. _Ephem. Germ._ T. 1. Add. ad. Obs. 117.

From the same Cause, I doubt not, it was that the Eye of a Gentleman’s Daughter, and those of a Cock, when wounded, so that the _Cornea_ sunk, were restored by a _Lithuanian_ Chymist, that passed for a Conjurer, by the Use of a Liquor found in _May_, in the Vesiculæ of _Elm_. Of which see Mr. _Ray’s Catal. Cantab._ in _Ulmus_ from _Henr. ab Heers_.

[kk] _Palpebræ, quæ sunt tegumenta Oculorum, mollissimæ tactu, nè lederent aciem, aptissimæ factæ, & ad claudendas Pupillas, nè quid incideret, & ad aperiendas; idque providit, ut identidem fieri posset cum maximâ celeritate. Munitæque sunt Palpebræ tanquàm vallo pilorum: quibus & apertis Oculis, si quid incideret, repelleretur, & somno conniventibus, cùm Oculis ad cernendum non egerimus, ut qui, tanquàm involuti, quièscerent. Latent prætereà utiliter, & excelsis undique partibus sepiuntur. Primùm enim superiora Superciliis obducta sudorem à capitæ, & fronte destuentem repellunt. Genæ deinde ab inferiore parte tutantur subjectæ, leviterque eminentes._ Cicer. de Nat. Deor. L. 2. c. 57.

_Tully_, in the Person of a _Stoick_, having so well accounted for the Use of the _Eye-Lids_, I shall for a further Manifestation of the Creator’s Contrivance and Structure of them, take notice of two or three Things: 1. They consist of a thin and flexible, but strong Skin, by which means they the better wipe, clean, and guard the _Cornea_. 2. Their Edges are fortified with a soft _Cartilage_, by which means they are not only enabled the better to do their Office, but also to close and shut the better. 3. Out of these Cartilages grow a Pallisade of stiff Hairs, of great Use to warn the Eye of the Invasion of Dangers, to keep off Motes, and to shut out too excessive Light, _&c._ and at the same time to admit of (through their Intervals) a sufficient Passage for Objects to approach the Eye. And it is remarkable, that these Hairs grow but to a certain, commodious Length, and need no cutting, as many other Hairs of the Body do: Also, that their Points stand out of the way, and in the upper-lid bend upwards, as they do downwards in the lower lid, whereby they are well adapted to their Use. From which last Observables, we may learn how critical and nice the great Author of Nature hath been, in even the least and most trivial Conveniencies belonging to Animal Bodies; for which Reason I have added it to _Tully_’s Remarks. And more might have been added too, as particularly concerning the curious Structure and Lodgment of the _Right Muscle_, which opens the Eye-Lids; and the _Orbicularis_, or _Circular_ one, that shuts them; the nice _Apparatus_ of Glands that keep the Eye moist, and serve for _Tears_; together with the Reason why Man alone, who is a social Animal, doth exhibit his social Affections by such outward Tokens as _Tears_; the _Nerves_ also, and other Organs acting in this Ministry. I might also speak of the Passages for discharging the superfluous Moisture of the Eyes through the Nostrils, and much more of the like kind. But it would take up too much Room in these Notes; and therefore it shall suffice to give only such Hints as may create a Suspicion of a noble Œconomy and Contrivance in this (I had almost said) least considerable part of the Eye. But for Particulars I shall refer to the Anatomists; and for some of these Things, particularly to Dr. _Willis_’s _Cereb. Anat._ and _de Anim. Brut._ and Mr. _Cowper_’s Elegant Cuts in the 11ᵗʰ _Tab._ of his _Anatomy_.

To the Eye-Lids we may add another Guard afforded the Eyes of most Quadrupeds, Birds, and Fishes, by the _nictitating Membrane_, which Dr. _Willis_ gives this Account of, _Plurimis ~[Animalibus]~ quibus Musculus suspensorius adest_ (which Limitation he needed not to have added) _etiam alter Membranosus conceditur, qui juxta interiorem oculi canthum situs, quando elevatur, Oculi globum ferè totum obtegit. Hujus usus esse videtur, ut cùm Bestiæ inter gramina, ~&c.~ capita sua propter victum capessendum demergunt, hic Musculus Oculi Pupillam, nè à stipularum incursu seriatur, oculit, munitque._ De Anim. Brut. p. 1. c. 15.

This Membrane Man hath not, he having little Occasion to thrust his Head into such Places of Annoyance, as Beasts and other Animals; or if he hath, he can defend his Eyes with his Hands. But Birds (who frequent Trees and Bushes) and Quadrupeds, (Hedges and long Grass) and who have no part ready, like the Hand, to fence off Annoyances; these, I say, have this incomparable Provision made for the Safety of their Eyes. And for Fishes, as they are destitute of Eye-Lids, because in the Waters there is no occasion for a Defensative against Dust and Motes, offensive to the Eyes of Land Animals, nor to moisten and wipe the Eyes, as the Eye-Lids do, so the _Nictitating-Membrane_ is an abundant Provision for all their Occasions, without the Addition of the Eye-Lids.

And now, if we reflect, are these the Works of any Thing but a wise and indulgent Agent?

[ll] Although the Hardness and Firmness of the _Adnata_, or _Sclerotica_ in Birds, is a good Guard to their Eyes, yet I do not think it is made thus, so much for a Defence, as to minister to the lengthning and shortning the Eye, mentioned before in _Note (cc)._

[mm] _Cochleis oculorum vicem Cornicula bina pratentu implent._ Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 11. c. 37. See more of the Eyes of _Snails_ before in _Note (k)_; and in _Note (l)_, I said that I suspected _Moles_ also might thrust out, or withdraw their Eyes more or less within the Hair or Skin.

[nn] The diligent _Sturmius_ was fully persuaded there could not be any speculative Atheism in any one that should well survey the Eye. _Nobis_, saith he, _fuit persuasissimum. Atheismum, quem vocant speculativum, h. e. obsirmatam de Deitate in Universo nullâ persuasionem, habere locum aut inveniri non posse in eo homine, qui vel unius corporis organici, & speciatim Oculi fabricam attento animo aspexerit._ Sturm. Exerc. Acad. 9. De Vis. Organ. & Rat. in Epilogo.

[oo] The glorious Landskips, and other Objects that present themselves to the Eye, are manifestly painted on the _Retina_, and that not erect, but inverted as the Laws of Opticks require; and is manifest to the Eye from _Monsieur Cartes_’s Experiment, of laying bare the vitreous Humour on the back part of the Eye, and clapping over it a Bit of white Paper, or the Skin of an Egg; and then placing the fore-part of the Eye to the Hole of the Window of a darkned Room. By which means we have a pretty Landskip of the Objects abroad invertedly painted on the Paper, on the back of the Eye. But now the Question is, How in this Case the Eye comes to see the Objects erect? _Monsieur Cartes_’s Answer is, _Notitia illius ex nullâ imagine pendet, nec ex ullâ actione ab objectis veniente, sed ex solo situ exiguarum partium cerebri, è quibus Nervi expullulant.——E.g. cogitandum in Oculo——situm capillamenti nervi optici——respondere ad alium quendam partis cerebri——qui facit ut Anima singula loca cognoscat, quæ jacent in rectâ, aut quasi rectâ lineæ; ut ita mirari non debeamus corpora in naturali situ videri, quamvis imago in oculo delineata contrarium habeat._ Dioptr. c. 6. But our most ingenious Mr. _Molyneux_ answereth thus, _The Eye is only the Organ or Instrument, ’tis the Soul that sees by means of the Eye. To enquire then how the Soul perceives the Object erect, by an inverted Image, is to enquire into the Soul’s Faculties——But erect and inverted are only Terms of Relation to up and down; or farther from, or nigher to the Center of the Earth, in Parts of the same Thing.——But the Eye, or visive Faculty takes no notice of the internal Posture of its own Parts, but useth them as an Instrument only, contrived by Nature for the Exercise of such a Faculty.——Let us imagine, that the Eye ~(on its lower Part)~ receives an Impulse ~[by a Ray from the upper part of the Object]~ must not the visive Faculty be necessarily directed hereby to consider this Stroke, as coming from the top rather than the bottom ~[of the Object]~ and consequently be directed to conclude it the Representation of the top? Hereof we may be satisfied, by supposing a Man standing on his Head. For here, though the upper Parts of Objects are painted on the upper Parts of the Eye, yet the Objects are judged to be erect. What is said of Erect and Reverse, may be understood of Sinister and Dexter._ Molyneux’s Dioptr. Nov. Part I. Prop. 28.

CHAP. III.

_Of the Sense of Hearing._

Concerning the Sense of _Hearing_, I shall take notice of two Things, the Organ, the _Ear_; and its Object, _Sound_.

I. For the Organ, the _Ear_; I shall pass by its convenient Number of being double, which (as in the last Sense) serves for the commodious Hearing every way round us; as also a wise Provision for the utter Loss or Injury[a] of one of the Ears. But I shall a little insist upon its Situation, and its admirable Fabrick and Parts.

1. It is situated in the most convenient Part of the Body, (like as I said the Eye is) in a Part near the common Sensory in the Brain, to give the more speedy Information; in a Part where it can be best guarded, and where it is most free from Annoyances and Harms it self, and where it gives the least Annoyance and Hindrance to the Exercises of any other Part; in a Part appropriated to the peculiar Use of the principal Senses, in the most lofty, eminent Part of the Body, where it can perceive the most Objects, and receive the greatest Information: And lastly, in a Part in the Neighbourhood of its Sister Sense the Eye, with whom it hath peculiar and admirable Communication by its Nerves, as I intend to shew in its proper Place. In respect then of its Situation and Place in the Body, this Sense is well designed and contrived, and may so far be accounted the Work of some admirable Artist. But,

2. If we survey its Fabrick and Parts, it will appear to be an admirable Piece of the Divine Wisdom, Art, and Power. For the Manifestation of which, let us distinctly survey the outward and the inward Part of its curious Organ.

1. For the _outward Ear_: If we observe its Structure in all Kinds of Animals, it must needs be acknowledged to be admirably Artificial, it being so nicely prepared, and adjusted to the peculiar Occasions of each respective Animal. In Man[b], it is of a Form proper for the erect Posture of his Body. In Birds, of a Form proper for Flight; not protuberant, because that would obstruct their Progress, but close and covered, to afford the easier Passage through the Air. In Quadrupeds, its Form is agreeable to the Posture, and slower Motion of their Bodies; and in these too, various, according to their various Occasions. In some large, erect, and open, to hear the least Approaches of Dangers[c], in others covered, to keep out noxious Bodies. In the Subterraneous Quadrupeds, who are forced to mine, and dig for their Food and Habitation, as a protuberant Ear, like that of other Quadrupeds, would obstruct their Labours, and be apt to be torn and injured; so they have the contrary[d], their Ears short, lodged deep and backward in their Head, and passing to the under Part thereof, and all sufficiently fenced and guarded. And as for Insects, Reptiles, and the Inhabitants of the Waters, if they enjoy this Sense, (as there is great Reason to think they do,) it may probably be lodged commodiously under the same Security and Guard, as the Smelling, or some other Sense is.

And moreover, as the Form of this Organ is various in various Animals, so in each of them its Structure is very curious and observable, being in all admirably contrived to collect the wandering, circumambient Impressions, and Undulations of Sound, and to convey them to the Sensory within. If I should run over the several _Genera_ of Animals, we might find a notable Prospect of the handy-work of God[e], even in this so inconsiderable Part of Animals. But I shall only carry my Survey to that of Man. And here the first Thing that offereth it self to our View, is the _Helix_, with its tortuous Cavities, made to stop, and collect the sonorous Undulations, to give them a gentle Circulation and Refraction, and so convey them to the _Concha_, or larger and more capacious round Cell at the Entrance of the Ear. And to bridle the Evagation of the Sound, when arrived so far, but withal not to make a Confusion thereof, by any disagreeable Repercussions, we may take notice of a very curious Provision in those little Protuberances, called the _Tragus_, and _Antitragus_ of the outward Ear, of a commodious Form and Texture[f], and conveniently lodged for this Use. The great Convenience and Benefit of this Form and Contrivance of the outward Ear, is sufficiently manifest by the want thereof, which causeth a _Confusion in the Hearing, with a certain Murmur, or Swooing like the Fall of Waters_[g].

Another wise Provision of the Creator, is in the Substance of the outward Ear, which is cartilaginous, the fittest for this Place. For (as an ingenious Anatomist[h] observes) “If it had been Bone, it would have been troublesome, and might by many Accidents have been broken off: If Flesh, it would have been subject to Contusion”. But indeed a worse Consequence than this would have ensu’d such a Softness as that of Flesh, and that is, it would neither have remain’d expanded, neither would it so kindly receive and circulate the Sounds, but absorb, retard, or blunt their Progress into the inward Organ. But being hard, and curiously smooth and tortuous, Sounds find an easie Passage, with a regular Volutation and Refraction: As in a well-built Arch, Grotto, or musical Instrument, which magnify and meliorate Sounds; and some of which convey even a Whisper to a large Distance[i]: But from the outward, let us carry our Survey,

2. To the inward Part of this admirable Organ. And here we find the most curious and artful Provision for every Emergency and Occasion. The _auditory Passage_, in the first Place, curiously tunnelled, and artfully turned, to give Sounds an easie Passage, as well as a gentle Circulation and Refraction; but withal, so as to prevent their too furious rushing in, and assaulting the more tender Parts within.

And forasmuch as it is necessary that this Passage should be always open, to be upon the Watch[k]; therefore to prevent the Invasion of noxious Insects, or other Animals, (who are apt to make their retreat in every little Hole), Nature hath secured this Passage[l], with a bitter nauseous Excrement[m], afforded from the Glands[n] appointed for that Purpose.

From hence let us approach the most inward Parts, in which we shall see Strokes of the most exquisite Art. To pass over the _innate Air_, that most Authors talk of[o], (because there is no such) the passage to the Palate[p], and their Uses, with divers other curious Things that might be named; let us stop a little at the Part containing the rest, namely, the Bone[q]. The particular Texture and Hardness of which, above other Bones of the Body, is very remarkable; whereby it serves not only as a substantial Guard to the Sensory, but also to oppose the Impulses of the ætherial Matter, that there may be no loss, nor Confusion in the Sound; but that it may be conveyed regularly, and intirely to the auditory Nerves.

The next Part I shall take Notice of, may be that fine Membrane, called the _Tympanum_, or _Membrana Tympani_[r], with its inner Membrane[s]; together with the four little appendent Bones[t], and the three inner Muscles to move them, and adjust the whole _Compages_ to the several Purposes of Hearing, to hear all Manner of Sounds, loud or languid, harsh or grateful[u].

From this Region of the _Tympanum_, I might pass to that of the _Labyrinth_[w], and therein survey the curious and admirable Structure of the _Vestibulum_, the _Semicircular Canals_[x], and _Cochlea_; particularly the artificial Gyrations, and other singular Curiosities observable in the two latter.

But I shall not expatiate on these recluse Parts; only there is one special Contrivance of the Nerves, ministring to this Sense of Hearing, which must not be passed by; and that is, the Branches of one of the _auditory Nerves_[y], spread partly to the Muscles of the Ear, partly to the Eye, partly to the Tongue and Instruments of Speech, and inosculated with the Nerves to go to the Heart and Breast. By which Means there is an admirable, and useful Content between these Parts of the Body; it being natural for most Animals, upon the Hearing any uncouth Sound, to erect their Ears, and prepare them to catch every Sound; to open their Eyes (those constant faithful Sentinels) to stand upon their Watch; and to be ready with the Mouth to call out, or utter what the present Occasion shall dictate. And accordingly it is very usual for most Animals, when surpriz’d, and terrify’d with any Noise, presently to shriek and cry out.

But there is besides this, in Man, another great Use of this nervous Commerce between the Ear and Mouth: And that is, (as one of the best Authors on this Subject expresseth it)[z], “That the Voice may correspond with the Hearing, and be a kind of Echo thereof, that what is _heard_ with _one_ of the two Nerves, may be readily expressed with the Voice, by the help of the _other_.”

Thus much shall suffice to have spoken concerning the Organ. Let us,

II. Take Notice of the _Object_ of this admirable Sense, namely, _Sound_; and so conclude this Chapter. I shall not here enquire into the Nature and Properties of _Sound_, which is in a great Measure intricate, and hath puzzelled the best Naturalists: Neither shall I shew how this admirable Effect of the divine Contrivance, may be improv’d to divers Uses[aa] and Purposes in humane Life; but my Business will be to shew that this Thing, of so admirable Use in the animal World, is the Work of God. And this will appear, let the subject Matter of Sounds be what it will; either the Atmosphere[bb] in Gross, or the ætherial Part thereof, or soniferous Particles of Bodies, as some fancy, or whatever else the Philosopher may think it. For who but an intelligent Being, what less than an omnipotent and infinitely wise God could contrive, and make such a fine Body, such a Medium, so susceptible of every Impression, that the Sense of Hearing hath occasion for, to empower all Animals to express their Sense and Meaning to others; to make known their Fears, their Wants, their Pains and Sorrows in melancholick Tones; their Joys and Pleasures in more harmonious Notes; to send their Minds at great Distances[cc], in a short Time[dd], in loud Boations; or to express their Thoughts near at hand with a gentle Voice, or in secret Whispers! And to say no more, who less than the same most wise and indulgent Creator, could form such an Oeconomy, as that of Melody and Musick is! That the _Medium_ should (as I said) so readily receive every Impression of Sound, and convey the melodious Vibration of every musical String, the harmonious Pulses of every animal Voice, and of every musical Pipe; and the Ear be as well adapted, and ready to receive all these Impressions, as the _Medium_ to convey them: And lastly, that by Means of the curious Lodgment, and Inosculations of the _auditory Nerves_ before-mentioned, the Orgasms of the Spirits should be allay’d, and Perturbations of the Mind, in a great Measure quieted and stilled[ee]: Or to express it in the Words of the last-cited famous Author[ff], “That Musick should not only affect the Fancy with Delight; but also give Relief to the Grief and Sadness of the Heart; yea, appease all those turbulent Passions, which are excited in the Breast by an immoderate Ferment, and Fluctuation of the Blood”.

And now, who can reflect upon all this curious Apparatus of the _Sense of Hearing_, and not give the great Creator his due Praise! Who can survey all this admirable Work, and not as readily own it to be the Work of an omnipotent, and infinitely wise and good _GOD_[gg], as the most artful Melodies we hear, are the Voice or Performances of a living Creature!

[Illustration]

FOOTNOTES:

[a] I presume it will not be ungrateful to take notice here of the admirable, as well as useful Sagacity of some deaf Persons, that have learnt to supply their want of _Hearing_ by understanding what is said by the Motion of the Lips. My very ingenious Friend Mr. _Waller_, _R. S. Secr._ gives this Account, _There live now and have from their Birth, in our Town, a Man and his Sister, each about fifty Years old, neither of which have the least Sense of Hearing,——yet both of these know, by the Motion of the Lips only, whatever is said to them, and will answer pertinently to the Question proposed to them——The Mother told me they could hear very well, and speak when they were Children, but both lost that Sense afterwards, which makes them retain their Speech; though that, to Persons not used to them, is a little uncouth and odd, but intelligible enough._ Phil. Trans. No. 312.

Such another Instance is that of Mr. _Goddy_, Minister of St. _Gervais_ in _Geneva_, his Daughter. _She is now about sixteen Years old. Her Nurse had an extraordinary Thickness of Hearing; at a Year old, the Child spake all those little Words that Children begin to speak at that Age.——At two Years old, they perceived she had lost her Hearing, and was so Deaf, that ever since, though she hears great Noises, yet she hears nothing that one can speak to her.——But by observing the Motions of the Mouth and Lips of others, she hath acquired so many Words, that out of these she hath formed a sort of Jargon, in which she can hold Conversation whole Days with those that can speak her own Language. I could understand some of her Words, but could not comprehend a Period, for it seemed to be but a confused Noise. She knows nothing that is said to her, unless she seeth the Motion of their Mouths that speak to her; so that in the Night, when it is necessary to speak to her, they must light a Candle. Only one thing appeared the strangest part of the whole Narration: She hath a Sister, with whom she hath practised her Language more than with any other: And in the Night, by laying her Hand on her Sister’s Mouth, she can perceive by that what she saith, and so can discourse with her in the Night._ Bishop _Burnet_’s Let. 4. p. 248.

[b] I cannot but admire that our most eminent modern Anatomists should not agree, whether there be any Muscles in the outward Ear of Man or not. Dr. _Keil_ saith there are two; Dr. _Drake_ the same Number; and Dr. _Gibson_ makes them to be four. So also doth _Monsieur Dionis_, and so did the ancient Anatomists: But Dr. _Schelhammer_ expressly denies there are any, and saith, _Seduxit autem reliquos Brutorum Anatome, in quorum plerisque tales Musculi plures inveniuntur; putârunt autem fortassis ignominiosum Homini, si non & his instructus esset, & minùs inde perfectum animal fore._ Schel. de Auditu p. 1. c. 1. §. 7. But _Valsalva_, who wrote very lately, and is very accurate in his Survey of the Ear, saith, _Musculi auriculæ posteriores quandoque quatuor, quandoque duo; sed ut plurimùm tres adnotantur; & quando solùm duo se manifestant, tunc unus ex illis duplicato tendine versùs Concham deferri solet. Horum musculorum in numero varietatem non solùm in diversis; verùm etiam in eodem subjecto quandoque vidi——Ex quibus differentiis subortæ sunt Auctorum discrepantiæ in horum Musculorum numero, & positu:——quod non evenisset, si pluries in diversis Corporibus iidem Musculi quæsiti essent._ Ant. Mar. _Valsalva de Aur. Human._ c. 1. §. 6. But Dr. _Drake_ thinks some of _Valsalva_’s Muscles the Product of Fancy. Mr. _Cowper_ makes them to be three, one _Attollent_, and two _Retrabent Muscles_. See _Anat._ Tab. 12.

[c] _Inter cætera ~[animalia aurita]~ maximè admirabilis est auris leporinæ fabrica, quod cùm timidissimum animal sit, & prorsus inerme, natura id tum auditu acurissimo, tanquam hostium exploratore ad perfentienda pericula, tum pedibus ceu armis ad currendum aptis munisse videtur._ A. Kircher’s _Phonurg._ l. 1. §. 7. Technas. 2.

[d] _Moles_ have no protuberant Ear, but only a round Hole between the Neck and Shoulder; which Situation of it, together with the thick, short Fur that covers it, is a sufficient Defensative against external Annoyances. The _Meatus Auditorius_ is long, round and cartilaginous, reaching to the under part of the Skull. Round the inside runs a little Ridge, resembling two Threads of a Skrew; at the Bottom whereof is a pretty Inlet, leading to the Drum, made, on one side with the aforesaid cochleous Ridge, and on the other, with a small Cartilage. I observed there was _Cerumen_ in the _Meatus_.

As to the _inner Ear_, it is somewhat singular, and different from that of the other Quadrupeds, and much more from Birds, although I have met with some Authors that make it agreeing with that of Birds. There are three small Bones only (all hollow) by which the _Drum_ (to use the old Appellation) or the _Membrana Tympani_ (as others call it) acteth upon the _Auditory Nerve_. The first is the _Malleus_, which hath two Processes nearly of equal Length; the longer of which is braced to the _Membrana Tympani_, the shorter to the side of the _Drum_ or _Os Petrosum_; the back part of it resembles the Head and Stalk of a small _Mushroom_, such as are pickled. On the back of the _Malleus_ lies the next small Bone, which may be called the _Incus_, long, and without any Process, having somewhat the Form of the short Scoop wherewith Water-men throw the Water out of their Wherries. To the end of this the third and last small Bone is tacked by a very tender Brace. This little Bone bears the Office of the _Stapes_, but is only forked without any Base. One of these Forks is at one _Fenestra_, or _Foramen_, the other at another; in which _Fenestra_ I apprehend the Forks are tacked to the Auditory Nerve. These _Fenestra_ (equivalent to the _Fenestra Ovalis_, and _Rotunda_ in others) are the Inlets into the _Cochlea_ and _Canales Semicirculares_, in which the _Auditory Nerve_ lieth. The _Semicircular Canales_ lie at a distance from the _Drum_, and are not lodged (as in other Animals) in a strong, thick Body of Bone, but are thrust out, within the Skull, making an _Antrum_, with an handsome _Arch_ leading into it, into which a part of the Brain enters.

One Leg of the _Malleus_ being fastned to the _Membrana Tympani_, and the _Incus_ to the back of the _Malleus_, and the top of that to the top of the _Stapes_, and the Forks or Branches of the _Stapes_ to the _Auditory Nerve_, I observed that whenever I moved the Membrane, all the little Bones were at the same time moved, and consequently the _Auditory Nerve_ thereby affected also.

I hope the Reader will excuse me for being so particular in this Organ only of the _Mole_, a despised Creature, but as notable an Example of _God_’s Work, as its Life is different from that of other Quadrupeds; for which Reason it partly is that I have enlarged on this part differing from that of others, and which no Body that I know of, hath taken much notice of, and which is not discoverable without great Patience and Application; and partly because by comparing these Observations with _Book VII. Chap. 2. Note (d)_, we may judge how the Sense of Hearing is performed.

[e] _Among many Varieties, both in the inner and outer Ear, those which appear in the Passage into the Rock-Bone, are remarkable. For in an ~Owl~, that perches on a Tree or Beam, and hearkens after the Prey beneath her, it is produced farther out above than it is below, for the better Reception of the least Sound. But in a Fox, that scouteth underneath the Prey at Roost; it is for the same Reason, produced farther out below. In a ~Pole-Cat~, which hearkens strait forward, it is produced behind, for the taking of a forward Sound. Whereas in a ~Hare~, which is very quick of Hearing, and thinks of nothing but being pursued, it is supplied with a bony Tube, which as a natural Otocoustick, is so directed backward, as to receive the smallest and most distant Sound that comes behind her._ Grew’s Cosmolog. Sacr. _lib. 1. c. 5. §. 6_.

[f] The Texture of the _Tragus_ and _Antitragus_, is softer than that of the _Helix_, which serveth gently to blunt, not forcibly to repel the Sound in the _Concha_.

[g] Dr. _Gibson_’s Anatomy, _Chap. 22. Book III_.

_Those whose Ears are cut off, have but a confused way of Hearing, and are obliged either to form a Cavity round the Ear with their own Hands, or else to make use of a Horn, and apply the end of it to the inner Cavity of the Ear, on order to receive the agitated Air. ’Tis likewise observed, that those whose Ears jut out, hear better than flat-eared Persons_. Monsieur Dionis’s _Anat. Demonstr. 8_.

[h] _Gibs._ Ibid.

[i] It would nauseate the Reader to reckon up the Places famed for the Conveyance of Whispers, such as the Prison of _Dionysius_ at _Syracuse_, which is said to encrease a Whisper to a Noise; the clapping ones Hands to the Sound of a Cannon, &c. Nor the _Aquaducts_ of _Claudius_, which carry a Voice sixteen Miles, and many others both Ancient and Modern. If the Reader hath a mind to be entertained in this way, he may find enough in _Kircher_’s _Phonurgia_. But it may not be irksome to mention one or two of our own in _England_. Among which, one of the most famed is the _Whispering-Place_ in _Gloucester Cathedral_, which is no other than a Gallery above the East-end of the Choir, leading from one side thereof to the other. It consisteth, (if I mistake not) of five Angles, and six Sides, the middle-most of which is a naked, uncovered Window, looking into a Chapel behind it. I guess the two Whisperers stand at about twenty five Yards Distance from one another. But the _Dome_ of St. _Paul_’s, _London_, is a more considerable _Whispering-Place_, where the ticking of a Watch (when no Noise is in the Streets) may be heard from Side to Side; yea, a Whisper may be sent all round the _Dome_. And not only in the Gallery below, but above, upon the Scaffold, I tried, and found that a Whisper would be carried over one’s Head round the top of the Arch, notwithstanding there is a large Opening in the middle of it into the upper part of the _Dome_.

[k] _Auditus autem semper patet: ejus enim sensu etiam dormientes egemus: A quo cùm sonus est acceptus, etiam è somno excitamur. Flexuosum iter habet, nè quid intrare possit, si simplex, & directum pateret; provisum etiam, ut siqua minima bestiola conaretur irrumpere, in sordibus aurium, tanquàm in visco, inhæresceret._ Cicer. de Nat. Deor. l. 2. c. 57.

It deserves a particular Remark here, that in Infants in the Womb, and newly born, the _Meatus Auditorius_ is shut up very closely, partly by the Constriction of the Passage, and partly by a glutinous Substance, whereby the _Tympanum_ is guarded against the Water in the _Secundine_, and against the Injuries of the Air as soon as the Infant is born.

[l] It is remarkable, that in most, if not all Animals, whose Ears are tunnelled, or where the _Meatus Auditorius_ is long enough to afford Harbour to _Ear-wigs_, or other Insects; that, I say, in the Ears of such, _Ear-wax_ is constantly to be found. But in Birds, whose Ears are covered with Feathers, and where the _Tympanum_ lies but a little way within the Skull, no _Ear-wax_ is found, because none is necessary to the Ears so well guarded, and so little tunnelled.

[m] The _Ear-wax_ was thought by the old Anatomists to be an Excrement of the Brain: _Humor biliosus à cerebro expugnatus_, the _Bartholines_ say of it, l. 3. _c. 9._ But as _Schelhammer_ well observes, _Nil absurdius, quàm cerebri excrementum hoc statuere. Nam & ratio nulla suadet, ut in cerebro fieri excrementum tale credamus:——neque viæ patent per quas ab eo seclusum in meatum auditorium possit inde penetrare._ As to its Taste, _Casserius_ gives Instances of its being sweet in some Creatures. But _Schelhammer_ says, _Ego verò semper, cum amaritie aliquid dulcedinis in illo deprehendi_. Vid. Schel. de Audit. _p. 1. c. 2. §. 10_. But I could never distinguish any Sweetness in it; but think it insipid mixed with a Bitterness.

[n] _Cerumina amara Arteriolis exudantia._ Willis de Anim. Brut. _par. 1. c. 14_. _In the Skin——are little Glands, which furnish a yellow and bitter Humour._ Monsieur Dionis’s Dem. 18. An handsome Cut of those _Glandulæ ceruminosæ_ is in Dr. _Drake_, from _Valsalva_.

_Pliny_ attributes a great Virtue to the _Ear-wax_; _Morsus hominis inter asperrimos numeratur: medentur sordes ex auribus: ac ne quis miretur, etiam Scorpionum ictibus Serpentiumque statim impositæ._ Plin. Nat. Hist. _l. 28. c. 4_. And that it hath an healing Quality, and may be accounted a good Balsam, I my self have experienced.

[o] That there is such a Thing as the _innate Air_, (talked of much by most Authors on this Subject) _Schelhammer_ very justly, I think, denies, by Reason there is a Passage into the inner Ear from the Throat, through which the _innate Air_ may pass out, and the outward Air enter in. _V._ _Par. Alt._ p. 2. c. 1. §. 10. When by stopping our Breath, and Straining, we force the external Air into the Ear, it may be heard rushing in; and if much be forced in, it may be felt also to beat against the _Tympanum_. When the Passage to the Throat is by any Means stopp’d, as by a Cold in the Head, &c. the Hearing thereby becomes dull and blunt; by Reason the Communication between the outward and inward Air are obstructed: But when by strong Swallowing, or such-like Motion of the Throat, the Passage is opened, we perceive it by a sudden Smack or Crack, and we immediately hear very clearly; the load of feculent Air being at that Time discharged from the inner Ear.

It is a wise Provision, that the Passage for the Air into the Ear, is from the Throat; _Ut non statim quivis aer externus irrumpere queat_ (as _Schelhammer_ saith, _Par. Ult. c. 4. §. 8._) _sed nonnihil immutatus, ac temperatus, calore ex medio ventre exspirante; imò fortassis non facilè alius, nisi ex pulmonibus._

[p] _Valsalva_ hath given us a more accurate Description of the _Tuba Eustachiana_, or _Passage to the Palate_, than any other Author, to whom I therefore refer, _De Aur. Human._ c. 2. §. 16, _&c._

The chief Use hereof, he thinks, is to give way to the inner Air, upon every Motion of the _Membrana Tympani_, the _Malleus_, _Incus_ and _Stapes_. This Passage, if it be shut up, Deafness ensues: Of which he gives two Instances: One a Gentleman, who lost his Hearing by a Polypus in the Nose reaching to the _Uvula_; the other a Yeoman, labouring with an Ulcer above the left Side of the _Uvula_; which when he stopt with a Tent dipped in Medicine, he lost his Hearing in the left Ear, and recovered it, as soon as the Tent was out. _Ibid. c. 5. §. 10._

[q] Os [petrosum] _ex quo interiores ~[Labyrinthi]~ cavitatum parietes conflati sunt, album, durissimum, necnon maximè compactum. Id autem à Naturâ ita comparatum esse videtur, ut materia ætherea Sonorum objectorum impressionibus onusta, dum prædictis impingitur Parietibus, nihil aut saltem ferè nihil motûs sui amittat, atque adeò illum qualem ab Objectis sonoris accepit, talem communicet spiritui animali contento intra expansiones rami mollioris Nervorum auris._ Dr. _Raym. Vieussens_ of _Montpellier_, in Phil. Trans. Nᵒ. 258.

[r] The _Tympanum_ of the Ear, or as _Valsalva_ and the Moderns, the _Membrana Tympani_ was taken notice of as early as _Hippocrates_’s Time. In Birds, it is strained towards the outward Parts; in other Animals towards the Brain, or inner Parts. Monsieur _Dionis_ saith, _It is not equally fastened to the whole Circumference of the bony Circle, in which it is inchased; for on the upper Side it hath a free disengaged Part, by which some can give vent to the Smoak in their Mouth._ Demonstr. 8. That there is some Passage I doubt not, but I question whether Monsieur _Dionis_ ever saw the disengaged Part he mentions. I have my self carefully searched divers Subjects, and do not remember to have seen any such Passage; and I perceive it escaped the diligent _Schelhammer_’s Eye. _Valsalva_ also by injecting in through the _Tuba Eustachiana_, could not force any Liquor into the _Meatus Auditorius_; but yet he imagines he found the Passage out in another Place of the Drum, in some morbid, and one sound Head. _Valsalv. de Aur. Hum._ c. 2. §. 8. Mr. _Cowper_ also affirms there is a Passage by the upper Part of the Membrane. _Anat. Ap._ Fig. 8.

[s] Dr. _Vieussens_, before-named, discovered a Membrane, _tenuissimæ raræque admodùm texturæ intra cavitatem Tympani_; as he describes it. Whose use he saith is, _1. Occludens Labyrinthi januam impedit nè naturalis purissimus ac subtilissimus Aer intra cavitates——communicationem——habeat cum aere crasso. 2. Labyrinthi basin calefacit, ~&c.~ ubi supra._ Probably this double Membrane may be such, or after the same Manner as it is in the _Tympanum_ of Birds: Of which see my Observations in _Book VII. Chap. 2. Note (d)._

[t] The four little Bones being treated of by all that have concerned themselves about this Sense of Hearing, since their Discovery, I shall take Notice of only two Things concerning them. 1. The Discovery of them is owing wholly to the Diligence and Sagacity of the latter Ages; of which _Schelhammer_ gives this Account from _Fallopius_, _Hæc Officula antiquis Anatomicis——ignota fuere; primusque qui in lucem produxit ~[Malleum & Incum]~ fuit Jac. Carpensis; primus quoque procul omni dubio Anatomicæ artis, quam Vesalius posteà perfecit, restaurator. Tertium ~[Stapedem]~ invenit ac promulgavit primus Joh. Phil. ab Ingrassia, Siculus, Philosophus ac Medicus doctissimus. Quartum, Thomâ Bartholin. teste, viro longè celeberrimo, Fran. Sylvio debetur_ Schel. _ubi supr._ c. 3. §. 9. 2. Their Difference in Animals: In _Man_, and _Quadrupeds_, they are four, curiously inarticulated with one another; with an external and internal Muscle to draw, or work them, in extending, or relaxing the _Drum_; but in _Fowls_ the Case is very different: _His unum Ossiculum solùm largita est Natura, quod Collumellam fortè appellaveris: teres enim est & subtilissimum, basi innitens latiori, rotundæ. Huic adnexa est cartilago valde mobilis, quæ in Tympanum videtur terminari._ Id. Ib. §. 8. _In the Ears of all the Fowl that I could examine, I never found any more than one Bone, and a Cartilage, making a Joynt with it, that was easily moveable. The Cartilage had generally an Epiphyse, or two, one on each Side.——The Bone was very hard and small, having at the end of it a broad Plate, of the same Substance, very thin, upon which it rested, as on its Basis._ Dr. _Al. Moulen_ in Phil. Trans. Nᵒ. 100.

These are the most material Things I find observed by others, concerning the Ears of Fowls, and some of them hardly, I believe, observed before. To which I shall subjoyn some other Things I have my self discovered, that I presume escaped the Eyes of those most curious and inquisitive Anatomists. Of which the last cited _Book VII. Chap. 2. Note (d)._

[u] _Videtur quòd Tympanum Auditionis instrumentum præliminare, & quasi præparatorium fuerit, quad Soni impressionem, sive species sensibiles primo suscipiens, eas in debitâ proportione, & aptâ conformitate, versùs Sensorium, quod adhuc interiùs situm est, dirigat: simili officio fungitur respectu Auditûs, ac tunicæ Oculi Pupillam constituentes, respectu Visûs; utræque Membranæ Species sensibiles refringunt & quasi emolliunt, easque Sensorio non nisi proportionatas tradunt, cui nudo si adveniant, teneriorem ejus crasin facilè lædant, aut obruant. Reverà Tympanum non audit, sed meliori tutiorique Auditioni confert. Si hæc pars destruatur, Sensio adhuc aliquamdiu, rudi licèt modo, peragi possit; quippe experimento olim in Cane facto, ~&c.~——Janitoris officio ut Tympanum rectè defungi possit, expansum ejus pro datâ occasione stringi, aut relaxari debet, veluti nimirùm Oculi Pupilla——Quapropter huic Auris Tympano, non secus ac bellico, machinæ sive tæniæ quædam apponuntur, quæ superficiem ejus modò tensiorem, modò laxiorem reddant: hoc enim efficiunt tria Ossicula, cum Musculo, ~&c.~_ _Willis_’s de Anim. Brut. c. 14.

For this Opinion of Dr. _Willis_, Dr. _Schelhammer_ is very severe upon him, deriding the Refractions he speaks of; and therefore seriously proves that they are the Humours, not Tunicks of the Eye, that refract the Rays of Light; and then jeeringly demandeth, Whether the sonorous Rays are refracted by passing through a different Medium? Whether the Convexity or Concavity of the Drum collects those Rays into a focal Point, or scatters them? _&c._ And then saith, _Ob has rationes à clariss. Viri, ac de re Medicâ præclarè meriti, sententiâ non possumus non esse alieniores; in quo uti ingenium admiror, quoties medicamentorum vires, aut morborum causas explicat, sic ubi forum suum egressus, Philosophum agit, ac vel Partium usum, vel Chymicarum rerum naturam scrutetur, ejus haud semel non modò judicium desidero, verùm aliquando etiam fidem._ This is so severe and unjust a Censure of our truly famous Countryman, (a Man of known Probity) that might deserve a better Answer; but I have only Time to say, that although Dr. _Schelhammer_ hath out-done all that wrote before him, in his Book _de Auditu_, and shewed himself a Man of Learning and Industry; yet as our Countryman wrote more than he, (though perhaps not free from Errors too) so he hath manifested himself to have been as curious and sagacious an Anatomist, as great a Philosopher, and as learned and skilful a Physician, as any of his Censurers, and his Reputation for Veracity and Integrity, was no less than any of theirs too. But after all this terrible Clamour, Dr. _Schelhammer_ prejudicately mistaketh Dr. _Willis_’s Meaning, to say no worse. For by _utræque Membranæ refringunt_, Dr. _Willis_ plainly enough, I think, means no more than a Restriction of the Ingress of too many Rays; as his following explicatory Words manifest, _viz. refringunt, & quasi emolliunt, easque Sensorio non nisi proportionatas tradunt_. But indeed Dr. _Schelhammer_ hath shewn himself a too rigid Censor, by making Dr. _Willis_ say, the _Ear-Drum_ hath such like Braces as the _War-Drum_, viz. _Quod porrò de machinis seu tæniis Tympani bellici adducit, dicitque idem in Tympano auditorio conspici, id prorsus falsissimum est._ I wonder Dr. _Schelhammer_ did not also charge Dr. _Willis_ with making it a Porter, since he saith in the same Paragraph, _Janitoris officio, ~&c.~_ But Dr. _Willis_’s Meaning is plain enough, that the little Bones and Muscles of the _Ear-Drum_ do the same Office in straining and relaxing it, as the Braces of the _War-Drum_ do in that. And considering how curious and solemn an Apparatus there is of Bones, Muscles, and Joynts, all adapted to a ready Motion; I am clearly of Dr. _Willis_’s Opinion, that one great Use of the _Ear-Drum_ is for the proportioning Sounds, and that by its Extension and Retraction, it corresponds to all Sounds, loud or languid, as the Pupil of the Eye doth to several Degrees of Light: And that they are no other than secondary uses assigned by Dr. _Schelhammer_, as the principal or sole Uses of keeping out the external colder Air, Dust, and other Annoyances; but especially that, _ob solius aerís interni potissimùm irrumpentis vim, hunc motum Tympani ac Mallei esse conditum, ut cedere primùm, deinde sibi restitui queat_; as his Words are, _P. ult._ c. 6. §. 13.

It was no improbable thought of _Rohault, nos attentos præbere, nil aliud est, nisi ~Tympanum~, ubi ita opus est facto, contendere aut laxare, & operam dare ut illud in eâ positione intentum stet, in quâ tremulum aeris externi motum commodissimè excipere possit._ Roh. Phys. p. 1. c. 26. §. 48.

The Hearing of deaf Persons more easily by Means of loud Noises, is another Argument of the Use of the Straining or Relaxation of the _Tympanum_ in Hearing. Thus Dr. _Willis_ (ubi supra) _Accepi olim à viro fide digno, se mulierem novisse, quæ licèt surda fuerit, quousque tamen intra conclave Tympanum pulsaretur, verba quævis clarè audiebat: quare Maritus ejus Tympanistam pro servo domestico conducebat, ut illius ope, colloquia interdum cum Uxore suâ haberet. Etiam de alio Surdastro mihi narratum est, qui prope Campanile degens, quoties unà plures Campanæ resonarent, vocem, quamvis facilè audire, & non aliàs, potuit._

_Abscisso Musculo ~[Processus majoris Mallei]~ in recenti aure, relaxatur ~[Tympani Membrana]~._ _Valsalv. de Aur. Hum._ c. 2. §. 5.

Upon considering the great Difference in Authors Opinions, about the Use of the Parts, and Manner how Hearing is performed, as also what a curious Provision there is made in the Ear, by the four little Bones, the Muscles, Membrane, _&c._ I was minded (since I penned this Note) to make enquiry my self into this Part, and not to rely upon Authority. And after a diligent search of various Subjects, I find we may give as rational and easie an Account of Hearing, as of Seeing, or any other Sense; as I have shewn in my last cited _Note (d) Book VII. Chap. 2._ with relation to Birds. And as to Man and Beasts, the Case is the same, but the Apparatus more complex and magnificent. For whereas in Birds, the _auditory Nerve_ is affected by the Impressions made on the _Membrane_, by only the Intermediacy of the _Collumella_; in Man, it is done by the Intervention of the four little Bones, with the Muscles acting upon them; his Hearing being to be adjusted to all kinds of Sounds, or Impressions made upon the _Membrana Tympani_. Which Impressions are imparted to the _auditory Nerve_, in this Manner, _viz._ First they act upon the _Membrane_ and _Malleus_, the _Malleus_ upon the _Incus_, and the _Incus_ upon the _Os Orbiculare_ and _Stapes_; and the _Stapes_ upon the _auditory Nerve_: For the Base of the _Stapes_ (the same as the _Operculum_ in Birds) not only covers the _Fenestra Ovalis_, within which the _auditory Nerve_ lieth, but hath a Part of the _auditory Nerve_ spread upon it too. It is manifest that this is the true Process of Hearing; because, if the _Membrane_ be mov’d, you may see all the Bones move at the same Time, and work the Base of the _Stapes_ up and down in the _Fenestra Ovalis_, as I shewed in this Chapter, _Note (d)_ concerning the _Mole_; and as it may be seen in other Ears carefully opened, if the Parts remain _in situ_.

[w] I do not confine the _Labyrinth_ to the _Canales Semicirculares_, or any other Part, as the elder Anatomists seem to have done, who by their erroneous and blind Descriptions seem not well to have understood there Parts; but with those much more curious and accurate Anatomists, _Monsieur de Vernay_, and Dr. _Valsalva_; under the _Labyrinth_, I comprehend the _Canales Semicirculares_, and the _Cochlea_, together with the intermediate Cavity, called by them the _Vestibulum_.

[x] In the _semicircular Canals_, two Things deserve to be noted. 1. That the three Canals are of three different Sizes, _Major_, _Minor_, and _Minimus_. 2. Although in different Subjects, they are frequently different; yet in the same Subject they are constantly the same. The Reason of all which, together with their Uses, _Valsalva_ ingeniously thinks is, that as a Part of the tender _auditory Nerve_ is lodged in these Canals, so they are of three Sizes, the better to suit all the Variety of Tones; some of the Canals suiting some, and others, other Tones. And although there be some Difference as to the Length and Size of these Canals, in different Persons; yet, lest there should be any discord in the auditory Organs of one and the same Man, those Canals are always in exact Conformity to one another in one and the same Man. _V._ _Valsal._ _ubi supr._ c. 3. §. 7. and c. 6. §. 4. 9.

[y] _Hic posterior Nervus extra cranium delatus, in tres ramos dividitur, qui omnes motibus patheticis——inserviunt. Primus——musculis Auris impenditur. Proculdubio hujus actione efficitur, ut animalia quævis, à subito soni impulsu, aurs, quasi sonum nimis citò transeuntem captaturas erigant. Ramus alter——versus utrumque oculi angulum surculos emittit: qui musculis palpebrarum attollentibus inseruntur; quorum certè munus est ad subitum soni appulsum oculos confestim aperire, eosque velut ad Excubias vocare.——Tertius——ramus versus Linguæ radicem descendens, musculis ejus & ossis Hyoeideos distribuitur, adeóque organa quædam vocis edendæ actuat, ~&c.~_ _Willis_’s Cereb. Anat. c. 17.

[z] _Hujusmodi Nervorum conformatio in Homine usum alium insigniorem præstas, nempe ut Vox, ~&c.~_ _Willis Ibid._

[aa] Among the Uses to which the Wit of Man hath employ’d Sounds, we may reckon the Instruments useful in convocating Assemblies, managing Armies, and many other Occasions, wherein Bells, Trumpets, Drums, Horns, and other sounding Instruments are used; the Particularities of which it would be tedious to recount: As that the biggest _Bell_ in _Europe_ is reckoned to be at _Erfurt_ in _Germany_, which they say may be heard twenty four Miles; with much more to the same Purpose. I shall therefore only for a Sample take notice of the _Speaking-Trumpet_; the Invention of which is commonly ascribed to our eminent Sir _Samuel Morland_; but was more probably _Ath. Kircher_’s; at least he had contrived such an Instrument, before Sir _Samuel_ hit upon his. _Kircher_ in his _Phonurg._ saith, the _Tromba_ published last Year in _England_, he had invented twenty four Years before, and published in his _Misurgia_; that _Jac. Albanus Ghibbesius_, and _Fr. Eschinardus_ ascribe it to him; and that _G. Schottus_ testifieth he had such an Instrument in his Chamber in the _Roman College_, with which he could call to, and receive Answers from the Porter. And considering how famed _Alexander_ the _Great_’s Tube was, which is said might be heard 100 _Stadia_, it is somewhat strange that no Body sooner hit upon the Invention. Of this _Stentorophonick Horn_ of _Alexander_, there is a Figure preserved in the _Vatican_, which for Curiosity sake, I have from _Kircher_ represented in _Fig. 3._ He saith its Diameter was five Cubits, and that it was suspended on a Supporter.

For the Make of the _Speaking-Trumpet_, and the Reason why it magnifies Sounds, I shall refer to _Kircher_; especially to Sir _Samuel Morland_’s _Tuba Stentorophonica_, Published in 1672.

[bb] That the Air is the Subject, or _Medium_ of Sound, is manifest from the Experiments in rarefied and condensed Air. In an unexhausted Receiver, a small Bell may be heard at the Distance of some Paces; but when exhausted, it can scarce be heard at the nearest Distance: And if the Air be compressed, the Sound will be louder, proportionably to the Compression or Quantity of Air crouded in, as I have often tried my self, and may be seen in Mr. _Hawksbee_’s curious Experiments, p. 97. Also his Experiments in _Phil. Trans._ Nᵒ. 321.

_Kircher_ saith, he took one of these Trumpets of fifteen Palms length, along with him to the _Mons Eustachianus_, where he convocated 2200 Persons to Prayers, by means of the unusual Sound, at two, three, four, and five _Italian_ Miles Distance.

With these _Bellowing Trumpets_, I shall join some _Bellowing-Caves_ for the Reader’s Diversion. _Ol. Magnus_ describes a Cave in _Finland_, near _Viburg_, called _Smellen_, into which, if a Dog, or other Living Creature be cast, it sends forth so dreadful a Sound, that knocks down every one near it. For which Reason they have guarded the Cave with high Walls, to prevent the Mischiefs of its Noise. _Vid._ _Ol. Magn. Histor._ l. 11. c. 4. Such another _Peter Martyr_ saith is in _Hispaniola_, which, with a small Weight cast into it, endangers Deafness at five Miles Distance. And in _Switzerland_, _Kircher_ saith, in the _Cucumer-Mountain_ is a Pit that sends out both a dreadful Noise and a great Wind therewith; and that there is a Well in his Country 3000 Palms deep, whose Sound is equal to that of a great Gun. _Vid._ _Kirch. Phonurg._

_Ol. Magnus_ speaking of the vast high Mountains of a Northern Province, call’d _Angermannia_ saith, _Ubi bases eorum in profundissimo gurgite stantes, casu aliquo, vel proposito Nautæ accesserint, tantum horrorem ex altâ fluctuum collisione percipiunt, ut nisi præcipiti remigio, aut valido vento evaserint, solo pavore ferè exanimes fiant, multoque dierum curriculo, ob capitis turbationem, pristinæ mentis, & sanitatis compotes vix evadant. Habent bases illorum montium in fluctuum ingressu & regressu tortuosas rimas, sive scissuras, satis stupendo naturæ opificio fabricatas, in quibus longâ varagine formidabilis ille Sonitus quasi subterraneum tonitru generatur._ Ol. Magn. l. 2. c. 4. See also _Chap. 12._

Neither doth this succeed only in forced Rarefactions and Condensations of the Air, but in such also as are natural; as is evident from _David Frœdlichius_ in _Varenius_, upon the highest Eminencies of _Carpathus_, near _Kesmarckt_ in _Hungary_. The Story of _Frœdlichius_ is this, _Ego Mense Junii 1615. tum adolescens, sublimitatem horum montium, cum duobus comitibus Scholaribus, experiri volens, ubi, cùm in primæ rupis vertice, magno labore, me summum terminum assecutum esse putarem, demum sese obtulit alia multo altior cautes, ubi pervasta eaque vacillantia saxa (quorum unum, si loco à viatore dimovetur——aliquot centena——rapit, & quidem tanto cum fragore, ut illi metuendum sit nè totus Mons corruat, eumque obruat) enixus essem, iterum alia sublimior prodiit, ~&c.~ donec summo vitæ periculo ad supremum cacumen penetraverim. Ex declivioribus montibus cùm in subjectas valles,——nil nisi obscuram noctem, aut cœruleum quid, instar profundi aeris, quod vulgò sudum cœlum appellatur, observare potui, mihique videbar, si de monte caderem, non in terram, sed recte in solum me prolapsurum. Nimiá enim declivitate, species visibiles extenuatæ & hebetatæ fuerunt. Cum verò altiorem montem peterem, quasi intra nebulas densissimas hærebam——Et cùm non procul à summo vertice essem de sublimi quiescens prospexi & animadverti iis in locis, ubi mihi antea videbar intra nebulas hæsisse, compactas atque albas sese movere nubes, supra quas, per aliquot milliaria, & ultra terminos Sepusi commodus mihi prospectus patuit. Alias tamen etiam nubes altiores, alias item humiliores, necnon quasdam æqualiter à terrâ distantes vidi. Atque hinc tria intellexi, 1. Me tum transivisse principium media Aeris regionis. 2. Distantiam nubium à terrâ, non esse æqualem.——3. Distantiam nubium——non 72 Mill. Ger. ut quidam——sed tantum dimidiatum Mill. Ger. In summum montis verticem cùm pervenissem, adeò tranquillum & subtilem aërem ibi offendi, ut nè pili quidem motum sentirem, cùm tamen in depressioribus ventum vehementem expertus sim: unde collegi summum cacumen istius montis Carpathici ad Mill. Germ. à radicibus suis imis exsurgere, & ad supremam usque aëris regionem, ad quam Venti non ascendunt, pertingere. Explosi in eâ summitate Sclopetum: quod non majorem sonitum primò præ se tulit, quàm si ligillum vel bacillum confregissem; post intervallum autem temporis murmur prolixum invaluit, inferioresque montis partes, convalles & sylvas opplevit. Descendendo per nives annosas intra convalles, cùm iterum Sclopetum exonerarem, major & horribilior fragor, quàm ex tormento capacissimo inde exoriebatur: hinc verebar nè totus mons concussus mecum corrueret: duravitque hic sonus per semiquadrantem horæ usque dum abstrusissmas cavernas penetrâsset, ad quas aër undiq; multiplicatus resiliit.——In his celsis montibus, plerumq; ningit grandinatve mediâ astate, quoties nempe in subjectâ & vicinâ planitie pluit, utì hoc ipsum expertus sum. Nives diversorum annorum ex colore & cortice duriore dignosci possunt._ Varen. Georg. Gen. l. 1. c. 19. Prop. ult.

The Story being diverting, and containing divers Things remarkable, I have chosen to note the whole of it (altho’ somewhat long) rather than single out the Passages only which relate to the diminishing the Sound of his Pistol, by the Rarity of the Air at that great Ascent into the Atmosphere; and the magnifying the Sound by the Polyphonisms or Repercussions of the Rocks, Caverns, and other Phonocamptick Objects below in the Mount.

But ’tis not the Air alone that is capable of the Impressions of Sound, but the Water also, as is manifest by striking a Bell under Water, the Sound of which may plainly enough be heard, but it is much duller, and not so loud; and it is also a fourth deeper, by the Ear of some great Judges in Musical Notes, who gave me their Judgments in the matter. But _Mersenne_ saith, a Sound made under Water, is of the same Tone or Note, if heard under Water; as are also Sounds made in the Air, when heard under Water. _Vid._ _Mersen. Hydraul._

Having mentioned the hearing of Sounds under Water, there is another Curiosity worth mentioning, that also farther proves Water to be susceptible of the Impressions of Sound, _viz._ _Divers_ at the bottom of the Sea, can hear the Noises made above, only confusedly. But, on the contrary, those above cannot hear the Divers below. Of which an Experiment was made, that had like to have been fatal: One of the Divers blew an Horn in his Diving-Bell, at the bottom of the Sea; the Sound whereof (in that compressed Air) was so very loud and irksome, that stunned the Diver, and made him so giddy, that he had like to have dropt out of his Bell, and to have been drowned. _Vid._ _Sturmii Colleg. Cur. Vol. 2. Tentam. 1._

[cc] As to the Distance to which Sound may be sent, having some doubt, whether there was any Difference between the Northern and Southern Parts, by the Favour of my learned and illustrious Friend Sir _Henry Newton_, her Majesty’s late Envoy at _Florence_: I procured some Experiments to be made for me in _Italy_. His most Serene Highness the _Great Duke_, was pleased to order great Guns to be fir’d for this purpose at _Florence_, and Persons were appointed on purpose to observe them at _Leghorne_, which they compute is no less than 55 Miles in a strait Line. But notwithstanding the Country between being somewhat hilly and woody, and the Wind also was not favouring, only very calm and still, yet the Sound was plainly enough heard. And they tell me, that the _Leghorne_ Guns are often heard 66 Miles off, at _Porto Ferraio_; that when the _French_ bombarded _Genoa_, they heard it near _Leghorne_, 90 Miles distant: and in the _Messina Insurrection_, the Guns were heard from thence as far as _Augusta_ and _Syracuse_, about 100 _Italian_ Miles. These Distances being so considerable, give me Reason to suspect, that Sounds fly as far, or nearly as far in the Southern, as in the Northern Parts of the World, notwithstanding we have a few Instances of Sounds reaching farther Distances. As Dr. _Hearn_ tells us of Guns fired at _Stockholm_ in 1685, that were heard 180 _English_ Miles. And in the _Dutch_ War, 1672, the Guns were heard above 200 Miles. _Vid._ _Phil. Trans._ Nᵒ. 113. Also there is this farther Reason of Suspicion, that the _Mercury_ in the _Barometer_ riseth higher without than within the Tropicks, and the more Northerly, still the higher, which may encrease the Strength of Sounds, by _Note (bb)._

[dd] As to the Velocity of Sounds, by Reason the most celebrated Authors differ about it, I made divers nice Experiments my self, with good Instruments; by which I found, 1. That there is some, although a small Difference in the Velocity of Sounds, with or against the Wind: which also is, 2. Augmented or diminished by the Strength or Weakness of the Wind. But that nothing else doth accelerate or retard it, not the Differences of Day or Night, Heat or Cold, Summer or Winter, Cloudy or Clear, Barometer high or low, _&c._ 3. That all kinds of Sounds have the same Motion, whether they be loud or languid, of Bells, Guns, great or small, or any other sonorous Body. 4. That they fly equal Spaces in equal Times. Fifthly and Lastly, That the Mean of their Flight is at the Rate of a Mile in 9¼ half Seconds, or 1142 Feet in one Second of Time. _Vid._ _Phil. Trans. Ibid._

[ee] _Timothy_ a Musician could excite _Alexander the Great_ to Arms with the _Phrygian_ Sound, and allay his Fury with another Tone, and excite him to Merriment. So _Ericus_ King of _Denmark_, by a certain Musician, could be driven to such a Fury, as to kill some of his best and most trusty Servants. More of this Power of Musick over the Affections, may be seen in _Ath. Kirch. Phonurg. L. 2. §. 1._ Also in _Is. Vossius de Poematum cantu, & Rythmi viribus_.

And not only upon the Affections, but also on the Parts of the Body. Musick is able to exert its Force, as appears from the _Gascoigne_ Knight, _Cui Phormingis sono audito Vesica statim ad Urinam reddendam vellicabatur_. Such another we have in Aᵒ. 1. _Ephem. Nat. Curios. Observ. 134_. Also _Morhoff de Scyph. vitr. per cert. human. vocis sonum fracto_: where there is not only the Account of the _Dutchman_ at _Amsterdam_, one _Nich. Peter_, that brake Romer-Glasses with the Sound of his Voice; but also divers other Instances of the Powers and Effects of Sound. But to the Story of the _Gascoigne_ Knight, Mr. _Boyl_, from _Scaliger_, adds a pleasant Passage, That one he had disobliged, to be even with him, caused at a Feast, a Bag-pipe to be played, when he was hemmed in with the Company; which made the Knight bepiss himself, to the great Diversion of the Company, as well as Confusion of himself. _Boyl_’s _Essay of the Effect of Lang. Motion._ In the same Book are other Matters that may be noted here. One whose Arm was cut off, was exceedingly tormented with the discharge of the great Guns at Sea, although he was at a great Distance on Land. And a great Ship-Commander observed his wounded Men, with broken Limbs, suffered in like manner at the Enemies Discharges. An ingenious Domestick of his own would have his Gums bleed at the tearing of Brown-Paper. And an ingenious Gentleman of Mr. _Boyl_’s Acquaintance confessed to him, that he was inclined to the _Knight of Gascoigne_’s Distemper, upon hearing the Noise of a Tap running. The dancing to certain Tunes, of Persons bit with the _Tarantula_, he was assured of by an ingenious Acquaintance at _Tarentum_, who saw several, among the rest a Physician, affected with that Distemper. And many other Accounts of this kind, seemingly credible, are related in _Morhoff_, _Kircher_, and many others; although Dr. _Cornelio_ questions the Matters of Fact relating to the cure of the _Tarantula_-bite, in _Phil. Trans._ Nᵒ. 83. Mr. _Boyl_ also saith, a sober Musician told him, he could make a certain Woman weep, by playing one Tune, which others would be little affected at. And he saith, that he himself had a kind of shivering at the repeating two Verses in _Lucan_. And I add, that I very well know one to have a sort of chill about his _Præcordia_ and Head, upon reading or hearing the 53ᵈ Chapter of _Isaiah_; as also _David_’s Lamentations for _Saul_ and _Jonathan_, 1 Sam. i.

Neither are our own Minds and Bodies only affected with Sounds, but inanimate Bodies are so also. Of which many Stories may be met with in _Kircher_, particularly a large Stone that would tremble at the Sound of one particular Organ-Pipe; in _Morhoff_ also, who among many other Relations hath this, _Memini cùm ipsi [clarif. Willisio] de experimento Vitri per vocem fracti narrarem, ex eo audivisse, quod in adibus Musicis sibi vicinis aliquoties collapsum pavimentum fuerit; quod ipse sonis continuis adscribere non dubitavit._ Morhoff. cap. 12. _Mersenne_ also, among many Relations in his _Harmon._ and other Books, tells a far more probable Story, of a particular Part of a Pavement, that would shake, as if the Earth would open, when the Organs played, than what he relates about _Antipathy_, in his _Quæst. Comment. in Genes._ viz. That the Sound of a Drum made of a Wolf’s Skin, will break another made of Sheep’s Skin: That Hens will fly at the Sound of an Harp strung with Fox-Gut-Strings, and more to the same purpose. Mr. _Boyl_ also, in his last cited Book tells us, Seats will tremble at the Sound of Organs; and that he hath felt his Hat do so too under his hand, at certain Notes both of Organs, and in Discourse, that he tried an Arch that would answer to C fa-ut, and had done so an 100 Years; and that an experienced Builder told him any well-built Vault will answer some determinate Note. And at _Eastbury-House_ near _Barking_, I my self discovered the Porch, (having firm Brick-Walls,) not only to sound when struck on the Bottom, but also to give almost as loud a Sound, when I sounded the same Note with my Voice.

[ff] _Willis_, ubi supra.

[gg] _Ille Deus est——qui non calamo tantùm cantare, & agreste, atque inconditum carmen ad aliquam tantùm oblectationem modulari docuit, sed tot artes, tot vocum varietates, tot sonos, alios spiritu nostro, alios externo cantu edituros commentus est._ Senec. de Benef. l. 4. cap. 6.

CHAP. IV.

_Of the Sense of Smelling._

This Sense I shall dispatch in less Compass than the two last, because its Apparatus (although sufficiently grand and admirable, yet) is not so multiplicious as of the Eye and Ear; it being sufficient in this Sense, that the odoriferous Effluvia of Bodies[a] can have an easy, free Passage to the olfactory Nerves, without the Formalities of Refractions, and other Preparations necessary to the Perfection of the two former Senses. Accordingly the all-wise Creator hath made sufficient Provision for the Reception of Smells, by the Apertures of the Nostrils[b]; made not of Flesh, or Bone, but cartilaginous, the better to be kept open, and withal, to be dilated or contracted, as there is occasion: For which Service it hath several proper and curious Muscles[c].

And forasmuch as it is by Breathing[d], that the odorant Particles are drawn in, and convey’d to the Sensory; therefore there is a very wise Provision made in the _Laminæ_, with which the upper Part of the Nose is barricaded, which serve to two excellent Uses: Partly, to fence out any noxious Substances from entering the breathing Passages in our Sleep, or when we cannot be aware[e]; and partly, to receive the Divarications of the _olfactory Nerves_, which are here thick spread, and which do by these Means meet the Smells entring with the Breath, and striking upon them.

And accordingly, the more accurate this Sense is in any Animal, the longer we may observe those _Laminæ_ are; and more of them in number folded up, and crouded together, to contain the more nervous Filaments, and to detain and fetter the odoriferous Particles in their Windings and Turnings.

And an admirable Provision this is, which the great Creator hath made for the good of brute Creatures[f]; the chief Acts of many of whose Lives, are perform’d by the Ministry of this Sense. In insects, and many other Creatures, it is of great Use in the Propagation of their Kind; as particularly in helping them to safe and convenient Places for the Incubation of their Eggs, and breeding up their Young. Others are by the Accuracy of this Sense, of Use to Mankind, which would be otherwise of little or no Use[g]. And most of the irrational Animals, Birds, Beasts, and creeping Things, do, by their Smell, find out their Food; some at great Distances, and some at Hand. With what Sagacity do some discover their Food in the Midst of Mud and Dirt[h]? With what Curiosity do the herbaceous Kind pick and chuse such Plants as afford them wholsome Food, or sometimes such as are Medicinal[i], and refute such as would hurt and destroy them? And all by the Help principally, if not only, of the Smell, assisted by its near Ally the Taste. Of which I shall in the next Place speak very briefly.

FOOTNOTES:

[a] Piece of _Ambergrease_ suspended in a Pair of Scales, that would turn with a very small Part of a Grain, lost nothing of its Weight in 3½ Days; neither did _Assa fœtida_ in 5½ Days; but an Ounce of _Nutmegs_ lost 5½ Grains in 6 Days; and _Cloves_ 7⅘ Grains. _Boyl’s Subtil. of Effluv._ c. 5.

[b] _Nares, eò quòd omnis Odor ad superiora fertur, rectè sursum sunt: Et quòd Cibi & Potionis judicium magnum earum est, non sine causâ vicinitatem Oris secutæ sunt._ Cicero de Nat. Deor. l. 2. c. 56.

[c] Had not the Contriver of Animal Bodies been minded that his Work should have all the Signatures of Accuracy, this Sense might have been performed with a bare Aperture of the Nose; but that nothing might go imperfect out of his Hand, he hath made a part of the Nose easily moveable, and given a Set of Muscles to lift up, and open and shut the Nostrils; and so adjust it to every Occasion of this Sense.

[d] _Odorem non aliud, quàm infectum Aera, intelligi posse._ Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 9. c. 7.

[e] For a further Guard against the Ingress of noxious Things, the _Vibrissi_, or Hairs placed at the Entrance of the Nostrils serve, which, in some measure, stop the Entrance of Things improper, or however give Warning of them, but at the same Time allow an easy Passage to the Breath and Odours.

[f] _Multò præclarius emicat [Olfactus] in brutis animalibus, quàm in homine: ista namque hoc solo indice, herbarum, aliorumque corporum priùs ignotorum virtutes certissimè dignoscunt, quin & victum suum absentem, vel in abstruso positum, Odoratu venantur, ac facillimè investigant. Quòd autem minùs sagaces sunt hominum nares, illud non facultatis hujus abusui (prout nonnulli volunt) ascribi debet, verùm in causâ est ipsius Organi defectus: hoc enim circa victûs humani criteria (ubi ratio, & intellectus adsunt) non ita accuratum requiritur: Proptereà enim inferiores potentiæ in homine, à naturâ minùs perfectæ existunt, ut superiorum cultui & exercitio relinqueretur locus._ Willis de Anim. Brut. _cap. 13._

[g] Thus the chief Use of Hounds is to hunt; and other Dogs, to be a Watch and Guard to our Houses by Night. For which Services (particularly in Hounds) their _Olfactory Nerves_ are not only remarkably large, (like as they are in other Brutes,) but their Branches and Filaments are, in the _Laminæ_ of the Nostrils, both more and larger than I have seen in any other Creature whatsoever. Also there are more Convulsions of the _Laminæ_ than I ever remember to have found in any other Animal.

The Sagacity of Hounds is prodigious, of which see an Instance in _Book IV. Chap. 11. Note (hhh)._

[h] See _Book VII. Chap. 2. Note (e)._

[i] _Vid._ _Plin. Hist. Nat._ l. 8. cap. 27. _Quæ animalia quas herbas ostenderunt._

CHAP. V.

_Of the Taste[a]._

In this, as in the last Sense, we have an _Apparatus_ abundantly sufficient to the Sense; Nerves curiously divaricated about the Tongue[b], and Mouth, to receive the Impressions of every Gusto; and these Nerves guarded with a firm and proper Tegument to defend them from Harms; but withal, so perforated in the papillary Eminences, as to give a free Admission to Tastes.

But I shall say no more of this Sense; only a Word or two of its Consent with the Smell, and the Situation of them both: Their Situation is in the most convenient Place imaginable, for the Discharge of their Offices; at the first Entrance[c], in the Way to the grand Receptacle of our Food and Nourishment; to survey what is to be admitted therein; to judge between what is wholsome, and fit for Nourishment, and what is unsavoury and pernicious. And for this End, the all-wise Creator seems to have establish’d a great Consent between the Eye, the Nose, and Tongue, by ordering the Branches of the same Nerves[d], to each of those three Parts; as also indeed to divers other Parts of the Body, which I may have occasion to mention in a more proper Place[e]. By which Means, there is all the Guard that can be, against pernicious Food; forasmuch as before it is taken into the Stomach, it is to undergo the Trial of three of the Senses; the Scrutiny of the Eye, the strict Surveyor of its outward Appearance; and the Probation of the Smell and Taste, the two severest Judges of its natural Constitution and Composition.

FOOTNOTES:

[a] τὰ δὲ εἴδη τῶν χυλῶν, &c. _Saporum genera,——dulcis, pinguis, austerus, acerbus, acris, salsus, amarus, acidus._ Theophr. de Caus. Plant. l. 6. c. 1. What may the Cause of the difference of Tastes, he saith is hard to assign, πότερον γὰρ τοῖς πάθεσι, &c. _Utrum affectionibus Sensuum——an figuris, quibus singuli constant, ut Democritus censet._ id. ib. Δημόκριτος δὲ, &c. _Democritus——dulcem esse saporem qui rotundus: acerbum qui figurâ magnâ; asperum qui multis angulis, ~&c.~_ id. ib. &c. But of the Diversities and Causes of Tastes, see Dr. _Grew_, _Lect._ 6. and Dr. _Willis de Anim. Brut._ c. 12.

[b] _Intellectus Saporum est cæteris in primâ linguâ: Homini, & in palato._ Plin. l. 11. c. 37.

The Opinions of Anatomists concerning the Organ of _Taste_, are various. _Bauhin_, _T. Bartholin_, _Bartholette_, _Vestinge_, _Deusinge_, &c. place it in the laxer, fleshy Parts of the Tongue. Our famous _Wharton_, in the Gland at the Root of the Tongue: _Laurentius_ in the thin Tunick covering the Tongue; but the Learned _Malpighi_ with great Probability concludes, because the outward Cover of the Tongue is perforated, under which lie papillary Parts, (of which Mr. _Cowper_, hath very good Cuts in his _Anat. Tab. 13._) that in these the Taste lieth. _Malpighi_’s Words are, _Quare cùm dictis meatibus insignibus occurrant papillaria corpora, probabilius est in his ultimo, ex subintranti sapido humore titillationem, & mordicationem quandam fieri, quæ Gustum efficiat._ Malpig. Op. Tom. 2. De Linguâ, pag. 18.

_Præcipuum ac ferè solum Gustatûs organon est Lingua; cui aliquatenus subobscure tamen Palatum, & superior Gulæ pars consentiunt: in omnibus verò fibræ nervosæ immediata sensionis instrumenta sunt. Quare observare est, Linguam præ aliâ quâvis parte insigniter fibrosam esse, etiam texturâ valdè porosâ constare, in eum nempe finem, ut particulæ rei sapidæ copiosiùs ac penitiùs intra Sensorii meatus admittantur——Nervi autem qui fibris Linguæ densissimè intertextis famulantur, ac saporum impressiones τῷ πρώτῳ αἰσθητηρίῳ communicant, sunt——Nervi è paribus tum quinto, tum nono; & ubique cum densâ propaginum serie per totam ejus compagem distributi._ Willis ibid.

[c] _Gustatus, qui sentire eorum quibus vescimur genera debet, habitat in eâ parte Oris, quâ esculentis & poculentis iter natura patefecit._ Cicer. de Nat. Deor. l. 2. c. 56. _Vid._ _quoque supr._ _Note (b), Chap. 4._

[d] _Multa hujus ~[quinti paris]~ Nervi propagines Masticationis operi destinantur; ideoque quoniam alimenta ingerenda non modo Gustus, ast etiam Olfactûs & Visûs examen subire debent, ab eodem Nervo, cujus rami ad Palatum & Fauces missi, Manducationis negotium peragunt, propagines aliæ, velut exploratrites, ad Nares & Oculos feruntur, nempe ut isthæc aliorum sensuum organa, etiam ad objecta Gustûs melius dignoscenda probationum auxiliis quibusdam instruantur._ Willis Nerv. Descrip. & Usus. _cap. 22._

[e] See _Book V. chap. 8._

CHAP. VI.

_Of the Sense of Feeling[a]._

Having spent so much Time upon the other Senses, and therein given such ample Proofs of the infinite Creator’s Wisdom; I shall but briefly take Notice of two Things relating to this last Sense.

One is its Organ, the Nerves. For as all Sensation is performed by the Nerves[b], and indeed the other Senses (performed by Nerves) are a kind of Feeling; so is this Sense of _Feeling_ performed by Nerves likewise, spread in the most incomparable, curious Manner throughout the whole Body. But to describe their Origine in the Brain, and Spinal-Marrow, their Ramifications to all the Parts; their Inosculations with one another; and other Matters; whereby not only the Sense of _Feeling_ is perform’d, but also animal Motion, and an admirable Consent and Harmony of all the Parts of the Body is effected: (To describe, I say, these Things) would take up too much Time, and I have already, and shall, as I go along, give some Hints thereof.

The other Thing I shall take Notice of, is, the Dispersion of this Sense throughout the Body, both without, and within. The other Senses, I have observ’d, are seated in the very best Place for the Relief and Comfort, the Guard and Benefit of the Animal. And forasmuch as it is necessary to the Being, and well-being of the Body, that every Part should be sensible of Things safe, or Things prejudicial to it self; therefore it is an admirable Contrivance of the great Creator, to disperse this Sense of _Feeling_ throughout every Part[c]; to distinguish between Pleasure and Pain; Things salutary, and Things hurtful to the Body.

Thus in the five Senses of Animals, we have an Œconomy worthy of the Creator, and manifestly demonstrating his Power, Wisdom and Indulgence. For whether we consider the Mechanism of the Organs, or the great Use and Convenience of each Sense, we find it noble and grand, curious and artificial; and every way worthy of its infinite Maker, and beyond the Wit and Power of any Thing but a GOD: And therefore we must even deny our Senses, by denying them to be God’s handy-work.

And now from those chief Machines of animal Performances and Enjoyments, the five Senses; let us pass to another Thing in common to all the Sensitive Creatures, which is Respiration.

[Illustration]

FOOTNOTES:

[a] _Malpighi_ is of this Opinion, that as _Taste_ is performed by the _Papillæ_ in the Tongue, so is _Feeling_ by such like _Papillæ_ under the Skin. From several Dissections, and other Observations, he thus concludes, _Ex his & similibus videbatur animus abundè certior redditus, earundem Papillarum pyramidalium copiam, quas aliàs in Linguâ descripsi, in locis præcipuè acquisitiori Tactui dicatis reperiri, eodem progigni nervoso & cuticulari corpore, simulque circumvolvi reticulari involucro, & extimam cuticulam, veluti ultimum terminum attingere.——Microscopio quilibet in manûs dorso pro sudore orificia quædam miro ordine dispersa intueri potest, circa quæ frequentia quædam capitula assurgunt; hæc verò sunt Papillarum fines, dum à cute assurgentes interpositum superant rete, simulque extimam cuticulam. Hæc repetitis sectionibus deprehendi; ex quibus non improbabiliter deducam, sicuti ex elatioribus——papillis——in Linguâ, Gustûs Organon elicitur,——ita ex copiosâ harum Papillarum congerie——in organis, ubi maximè animalia Tactûs motione afficiuntur,——adæquatum Tactûs organum sufficientèr haberi._ Malpig. de extern. Tact. Org. _p. 26._ _Consul. quoque ejusd. Vit._ p. 28.

These Observations of _Malpighi_, our late curious and diligent Mr. _Cowper_ hath confirmed, and given us very elegant Cuts both of the Skin, and the _Papillæ_, and the Nerves, Glands, _&c._ under it, from Microscopical Observations. _Vid._ _Cowper’s Anat._ Introd. and Tab. 4.

[b] Although the Eye be the usual Judge of Colours, yet some have been able to distinguish them by their Feeling. _Quidam fuit qui venit ad M. Duc. ~Hetruriæ~ aulam qui colores per Tactum cognoscebat. Pro experimento velum sericum, uniformiter textum, & pluribus coloribus tinctum, offerebatur, & veracitèr de colore to singulis partibus judicabat._ Grimald. de Lum. & Col. prop. 43. §. 59.

[c] _Tactus autem toto corpore æquabilitèr fusus est, ut omnes ictus, omnesque nimios & frigoris, & caloris appulsus sentire possimus._ Cicer. _ubi supr._

_Tactus sensus omnibus est, etiam quibus nullus alius; nam & Ostreis, & terrestribus Vermibus quoque. Existimaverim omnibus sensum & Gustatûs esse. Cur enim alios alia sapores appetunt? in quo vel præcipua Naturæ architectio._ Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 10. c. 71.

CHAP. VII.

_Of Respiration._

Of all the Acts of Animal Life, this is one of the chief, and most necessary. For whatsoever hath Animal Life, hath also the Faculty of Respiration, or somewhat equivalent thereto[a]. Indeed so congenial is this with Life, that _Breath_ and _Life_ are in Scripture Phrase and Common Speech taken as synonymous Things, or at least necessary Concomitants of one another. _Moses_[b] expresseth animal Life, by [_The Breath of Life_]. Saith he, _Gen._ vii. 21, 22. _All Flesh that moved on the Earth, Fowl, Cattle, Beast, creeping Things, and Man; all in whose Nostrils was the Breath of Life in the dry Land died._ So the Psalmist, _Psal._ civ. 29. _Thou takest away their Breath, they die._ So grand an Act therefore in common to all Animals, may justly deserve a Place in this Survey of the Works of God in the animal Kingdom.

And here I might launch out into an ample Description of all the Parts ministering to this necessary Act, and shew the curious Contrivance and artificial Structure of them; but a transient View shall suffice. I might begin with the outward Guards, the Nose and Mouth; but these have been already touched upon. But the exquisite Mechanism of the _Larynx_, its Variety of Muscles, its Cartilages, all so exquisitely made for the Purpose of Respiration, and forming the Voice[c], are very admirable: And no less so is the Tongue[d], which ministers to that, and many other Uses too.

Next, the Fabrick of the[e] _Trachea_ deserves especial Remark. Its Valve, the _Epiglottis_ on the Top, to fence against all Annoyances; its cartilaginous Rings[f] nearly environing it, with its membranous Part next the Gullet, to give the freer Passage to the Descent of the Food. And Lastly, Its inner Tegument of exquisite Sense to be readily affected with, and to make Efforts against every Thing that is hurtful or offensive; these, I say, do all justly deserve our Admiration.

And no less prodigious are the Parts farther within; the _Bronchi_, the _Vesiculæ_[g], with their muscular Fibres[h], as some assert they have, together with the Arteries and Veins, which every where accompany the airy Passages, for the Blood to receive there its Impregnations from the Air.

From hence I might proceed to the commodious Form of the Ribs[i], the curious Mechanism of the Intercostal-Muscles[k], the Diaphragm, and all the other Muscles[l] ministring both to the ordinary, and extraordinary Offices of Respiration. But passing them by, I shall stop at one prodigious Work of Nature, and manifest Contrivance of the Almighty Creator, which although taken notice of by others[m], yet cannot be easily passed by in the Subject I am upon; and that is the Circulation of the Blood in the _Fœtus in the Womb_, so different from the Method thereof after it is Born. In the Womb, whilst it is as one Body with the Mother, and there is no Occasion, nor Place for Respiration, there are two Passages[n] on purpose for the Transmission of the Blood without passing it through the Lungs. But as soon as the _Fœtus_ is Born, and become thereby a perfectly distinct Being, and breathes for it self, then these two Passages are shut up: one nearly obliterated, the other becomes only a Ligament, except in some Creatures that are Amphibious, or are forced to lie long under Water, in whom these Passages probably remain open[o].

And now what Action of any rational Creature, what is there in a Man’s Life, that doth more plainly shew Design, Reason, and Contrivance, than this very Act of Nature doth the Contrivance and Design of the great GOD of Nature? What is Thought and Contrivance, if this be not? Namely, That there should be a temporary Part in the Body, made just for the present Exigence; to continue whilst there is occasion for it, and to cease when there is none; in some Creatures to remain always, by Reason of their amphibious Way of Living, and in Land-animals (purely such) to cease?

Another excellent Contrivance, a-kin to the last, is, for the Preservation of such Creatures whose occasions frequently necessitate them to live without, or with but little Respiration: Fishes might be named here, whose Habitation is always in the Waters; but these belong to an Element which I cannot at present engage in. But there are many Animals of our own Element, or partly so, whose Organs of Respiration, whose Blood, whose Heart, and other Instruments of Life, are admirably accommodated to their Method of Living: Thus many amphibious Creatures[p], who live in Water as well as Air; many quadrupeds, Birds, Insects, and other Animals, who can live some Hours, Days, yea, whole Winters, with little or no Respiration, in a Torpitude, or sort of Sleep, or middle State between Life and Death: The Provision made for these peculiar Occasions of Life, in the Fabrick of the Lungs, the Heart, and other Parts of such Creatures[q], is manifestly the Work of him, who as St. _Paul_ saith[r], _giveth to all Breath, and Life, and all Things_.

FOOTNOTES:

[a] The Uses assign’d to _Respiration_ by all the Anatomists before _Malpighi_’s Discoveries of the Structure of the Lungs, are so various, and many of them so improbable, that it would be frivolous to recount them. But the more eminent modern Anatomists assign these Uses. _Willis_ thus sums up his Opinion, _Præcipua Pulmonum functio, & usus sunt, sanguinem & aerem per totas partium compages, intimosque recessus, atq; ductus quosque minutissimos traducere, & ubique invicem committere; in cum nempe finem, ut sanguis venosus à circuitu redux, & chymo recenti dilutus,——tum perfectiùs misceatur & velut subigatur, tum potissimùm ut secundùm omnes suas partes ab aëre nitroso de novo accendatur._ Pharmaceut. p. 2. S. 1. c. 2. §. 2. _Mayow_ saith rightly, that one grand Use of _Expiration_ is, _Ut cum aëre expulso, etiam vapores è sanguine exhalantes, simul exsufflentur._ And as for _Inspiration_, that it coveyeth a nitro-aerial ferment to the Blood, to which the Animal-Spirits are owing, and all Muscular-Motion. _Mayow de Respir._ p. 22. _&c._ _meâ Edit_.

Somewhat of the Opinion of these two last cited, if I mistake not (it being long since I read their Tracts, and have them not now at hand,) were _Ent_, _Sylvius_, _Swammerdam_, _Diemerbroek_, and my Friend Mr. _Ray_ in an unpublished Tract of his, and in his Letters now in my Hands.

But our Dr. _Thurston_, for good Reasons, rejects these from being principal Uses of Respiration, and thinks, with great Reason, the principal Uses to be to move, or pass the Blood from the right to the left Ventricle of the Heart. Upon which account Persons hanged, drowned, or strangled by Catarrhs, so suddenly die, namely, because the Circulation of their Blood is stopped. For the same Reason also it is, that Animals die so soon in the Air-Pump. Among other Proofs he instanceth in an Experiment of Dr. _Croon_, _Profess. Gresh._ which he made before our _R. S._ by strangling a Pullet, so that not the least Sign of Life appear’d; but by blowing Wind into the Lungs through the _Trachea_, and so setting the Lungs a playing, he brought the Bird to Life again. Another Experiment was once tried by Dr. _Walter Needham_, before Mr. _Boyl_, and others at _Oxford_, by hanging a Dog, so that the Heart ceased moving. But hastily opening the Dog, and blowing Wind into the _Ductus Pecquetianus_, he put the Blood in Motion, and by that means the Heart, and so recovered the Dog to Life again. _V._ _Thurston de Respir. Us._ p. 60, and 63. _meâ Edit_.

Such an Experiment as Dr. _Croon_’s my Friend, the late justly renowned Dr. _Hook_ shewed also our _R. S._ He cut away the _Ribs_, _Diaphragm_, and _Pericardium_, of a Dog; also the top of the Wind-Pipe, that he might tie it on to the Nose of a Pair of Bellows; and by blowing into the Lungs, he restored the Dog to Life; and then ceasing blowing, the Dog would soon fall into dying Fits; but by blowing again, he recovered; and so alternately would die, and recover, for a considerable Time, as long, and often as they pleased. _Philos. Trans._ Nᵒ. 28.

For the farther Confirmation of Dr. _Thurston_’s Opinion, the ingenious Dr. _Musgrave_ cut off, and close stopped up the Wind-Pipe of a Dog with a Cork, and then threw open the _Thorax_; where he found the Blood stagnating in the _Lungs_, the _Arteria Pulmonaris_ the _right Ventricle_ and _Auricle_ of the _Heart_, and the two great Trunks of the _Cava_, distended with Blood to an immense Degree; but at the same Time, the _Vena Pulmonaris_, the _left Ventricle_ and _Auricle_ of the _Heart_ in a manner empty, hardly a spoonful of Blood therein. _Philos. Trans._ Nᵒ. 240. Or both the Experiments may be together met with in _Lowth. Abridg. Vol. 3. p. 66, 67._

This Opinion of our learned _Thurston_, the late learned _Etmullerus_ espoused, who being particular in reckoning up the Uses of Respiration, I shall therefore the more largely cite him. Respiration, saith he, serves, _1. Ad Olfactum. 2. Ad Screatum & Sputationem. 3. Ad Oscitationem, Tussim, Sternutationem, Emunctionemque. 4. Ad liquidorum Sorbitionem, Suctionemve. 5. Ad Loquelam, Cantum, Clamorem, Risum, Fletum, Flatum, ~&c.~ 6. Ad facum Alvi, Urinæ, Fœtûs Molæve, necnon Secundinarum expulsionem. 7. Ad promovendi Ventriculi, Intestinorum, Lacteorumque vasorum, ~&c.~ contenta. 8. Ad halitus aqueos Sanguinis è pulmonibus, aëris ope, exportandos. 9. Ad Diapnoën. 10. Ad exactiorem Chyli, Lymphaque, necnon Sanguinis——miscelam. 11. Ad conciliandum sanguini——coccineam rubedinem, ~&c.~ 12. Nec merosè negabimus, aërem——pulmones, & sanguinem illos transcurrentem, minùs calida reddere, ~&c.~ 13. Quod denique aër sanguini singulis Respirationibus aliquantillâ sui parte, admixtus, paucissimas quasdam in spiritum animalium elaboratione particulas simul contribuat._ All these Uses, although of great Consequence, yet he thinks rather conduce to the _Well-Being_, than the Being of the Animal; because without any of them, the Animal would not so speedily die, as it doth by Strangling, or in the Air-Pump. He therefore assigns a 14ᵗʰ, and the principal Use of Respiration to be, _For the passing of the Blood through the Lungs, that is thrown into them by the Heart._ Etmull. Dissert. 2. c. 10. §. 1. & 16.

But the late Dr. _Drake_, with great Ingenuity and Address, (like a Person so considerable for his Years, as he was in his Time,) not only establish’d this Notion of Respiration, but also carries it farther, making it the true Cause of the _Diastole_ of the Heart; which neither _Borelli_, _Lower_, or _Cowper_, much less any before those great Men, have well accounted for. That the Heart is a Muscle, is made evident beyond all doubt by Dr. _Lower_. And that the Motion of all Muscles consists in Constriction, is not to be doubted also. By which means the _Systole_ is easily accounted for. But forasmuch as the Heart hath no _Antagonist-Muscle_, the _Diastole_ hath puzzled the greatest Wits. But Dr. _Drake_ with great Judgment, and much Probability of Reason, maketh the Weight of the Incumbent Atmosphere to be the true _Antagonist_ to all the Muscles which serve both for ordinary Inspiration and the Constriction of the Heart. The Particulars of his Opinion may be seen in his _Anatomy_, l. 2. c. 7. And in _Philos. Trans. 281._

And I remember when I was at the University, my most ingenious and learned Tutor Dr. _Wills_, when he read Anatomy to us, was of Opinion, that the Lungs were blown up by the Weight of the incumbent Air, and represented the manner of Respiration in this manner, _viz._ He put a Bladder into a Pair of Bellows, turning back the Neck of the Bladder, and tying it fast, so that no Air might enter in between the Bladder and Bellows. This being done, when the Bellows were opened, the Bladder would be blown up by the Weight of the incumbent Air; and when shut, the Air would be thereby pressed forcibly out of the Bladder, so as to blow the Fire. This Experiment I take Notice of here; because (besides the Illustration it gives to Respiration) that great _Genius_ seems to have had a truer Notion of this _Phænomenon_, than was very common then, _viz._ about the Year 1677 or 78; as also, because I have in some Authors met with the same Experiment, without mention of Dr. _Wills_, whose I take it to have been.

Another Use of great Consideration, the already commended Dr. _Cheyne_ assigns; namely, to form the elastick Globules of which the Blood principally consists, without which there would be a general Obstruction in all the capillary Arteries. _Cheyne_’s _Phil. Prin. of Nat. Rel._ or _Harris_’s _Lex. Tech. in Lungs._

[b] _Gen._ ii. 7. vi. 17. _and_ vii. 15.

[c] Because it would be endless to specify the curious Mechanism of all the Parts, concurring to the Formation of the Voice; I shall therefore for a Sample note only two Things, 1. There are thirteen Muscles provided for the Motion of the five Cartilages of the _Larynx_, _Gibs. Anat. l. 2. c. 14_, a Sign of the careful and elaborate Provision that is made for the Voice. 2. It is a prodigious Faculty of the _Glottis_, in contracting and dilating itself with such Exquisiteness, as to form all Notes. For (as the ingenious Dr. _Keil_ saith) _supposing the greatest Distance of the two Sides of the ~Glottis~, to be one tenth Part of an Inch in sounding 12 Notes, (to which the Voice easily reaches;) this Line must be divided into 12 Parts, each of which gives the Aperture requisite for such a Note, with a certain Strength. But if we consider the Sub-division of Notes, into which the Voice can run, the Motion of the Sides of the ~Glottis~ is still vastly nicer. For if two Chords sounding exactly Unisons, one be shortened, ⅟₂₀₀₀ Part of its Length, a just Ear will perceive the Disagreement, and a good Voice will sound the Difference, which is ⅟₁₉₆ Part of a Note. But suppose the Voice can divide a Note into 100 Parts, it follows that the different Apertures of the ~Glottis~ actually divide the tenth Part of an Inch into 1200 Parts, the Effect of each of which produces a sensible Alteration upon a good Ear. But because each Side of the ~Glottis~ moves just equally, therefore the Divisions are just double, or the Sides of the ~Glottis~, by their Motion do actually divide one tenth Part of an Inch into 2400 Parts._ _Keil_’s Anat. c. 3. Sect. 7.

[d] Among the Instruments of Speech, the Tongue is a necessary one; and so necessary, that it is generally thought no Speech can be without it. But in the third Tome of the _Ephem. Germ._ is published, _Jac. Rolandi Aglossostomographia, sive Descriptio Oris sine Linguâ, quod perfecte loquitur, & reliquas suas functiones naturalitèr exercet._ The Person described is one _Pet. Durand_, a _French_ Boy of eight or nine Years old, who at five or six lost his Tongue by a _Gangrene_, occasioned the Small-Pox. Notwithstanding which, he could (as the Title saith) speak perfectly, as also taste, spit, swallow, and chew his Food; but this latter he could do only on that Side he put it into, not being able to turn it to the other Side his Mouth.

In the same Tract, _Chap. 6._ is this Observation of _ventriloquous_ Persons, _Memini me à quodam sat celebri Anatomico audivisse, dum de duplicaturâ Mediastini ageret, si Membrana ista duplex naturalitèr unita in duas partes dividatur, loquelam quasi ex pectore procedere, ut circumstantes credant Dæmoniacum hunc, aut Sternomythum._

[e] _The Variation of the Wind-pipe is observable in every Creature, according as it is necessary for that of the Voice. In an ~Urchin~, which hath a very small Voice, ’tis hardly more than membranous. And in a ~Pigeon~, which hath a low and soft Note, ’tis partly cartilaginous, and partly membranous. In an ~Owl~, which hath a good audible Note, ’tis more cartilaginous; but that of a ~Jay~, hath hard Bones instead of Cartilages; and so of a ~Linnet~: Whereby they have both of them a louder and stronger Note, ~&c.~_

_The Rings of the Wind-pipe are fitted for the Modulation of the Voice: For in ~Dogs~ and ~Cats~, which in the Expression of divers Passions use a great many Notes, (as Men do,) they are open and flexible, as in Man. Whereby all, or any of them are dilated, or contracted, more or less, as is convenient for a higher or deeper Note, ~&c.~ whereas in some other Animals, as in the ~Japan-Peacock~, which useth hardly more than one single Note, they are entire, ~&c.~_ _Grew_’s Cosmolog. Sacr. _Book I. Chap. 5. §. 9, 10._

[f] It is a farther manifest Indication of singular Design in the cartilaginous Rings of the _aspera Arteria_, that all the Way where they are contiguous to the _Oesophagus_, they are membranous, to afford an easie Passage to the Food; but after that, in the _Bronchi_; they are, some compleatly annular, some triangular, _&c._ And another observable is, the lower Parts of the superior Cartilages, receive the upper Parts of the inferior, in the _Bronchi_; whereas in the _aspera Arteria_, the Cartilages run and remain parallel to one another; which is a noble Difference or Mechanism in this (in a Manner) one and the same Part, enabling the Lungs and _Bronchi_ to contract themselves in Expiration, and to extend and dilate themselves in Inspiration.

[g] I shall not here intrench so much upon the Anatomist’s Province, to give a Description of the _Lungs_, although it be a curious Piece of God’s Workmanship; but refer to Seignior _Malpighi_, the first Discoverer of their _Vesiculæ_ in 1660, in his two Letters to _Borelli de Pulmon_. Also to Dr. _Willis_’s _Pharm. Rat._ p. 2. S. 1. c. 1. _de Respir. Orig. & Us._ who as he wrote after _Malpighi_, so hath more accurately described those parts; and to Mr. _Cowper_’s _Anat._ Tab. 24, 25. And if the Reader hath a Mind to see what Opposition Seignior _Malpighi_’s Discoveries met with at Home and Abroad, and what Controversies he had on that Account, as also his Censures of Dr. _Willis_’s Descriptions and Figures, he may consult _Malpighi_’s Life written by himself, _pag. 4 to 21_.

That the _Lungs_ consist of _Vesiculæ_, or _Lobuli_ of _Vesiculæ_ admitting of Air from the _Bronchi_, is visible, because they may be blown up, cleansed of Blood, and so dried. But Mr. _Cowper_ saith, he could never part the _Lobuli_, (so as to make Dr. _Willis_’s _Fig. 1. Tab. 3. & 4._) so that probably the _Vesiculæ_ are contiguous to one another throughout each Lobe of the Lungs. And not only Air; but _Diemerbroeck_ proves, that the _Vesiculæ_ admit of Dust also, from two asthmatick Persons he opened; one a Stonecutter’s Man, the _Vesiculæ_ of whose Lungs were so stuffed with Dust, that in cutting, his Knife went as if through an Heap of Sand; the other was a Feather-driver, who had these Bladders filled with the fine Dust or Down of Feathers.

[h] There is a considerable Difference between Dr. _Willis_, and _Etmuller_, _viz._ Whether the _Vesiculæ_ of the Lungs have any muscular Fibres or not? _Etmuller_ expressly saith, _Nullas Fibras musculosas, multo minùs rubicundam Musculorum compagem (sunt enim Vesiculæ albidæ & fere diaphanæ) in ipsis reperiri._ ubi supr. c. 6. §. 2. And afterwards, §. 3. _Pulmones esse molles flexilesque musculosis fibris ceu propriæ explicationis organis destitutos._ But Dr. _Willis_ as expressly alerts they have musculous Fibres, and assigns an excellent Use of them; _Cellulæ istæ vesiculares, ut nixus pro expiratione contractivos edant, etiam fibras, utì per Microscopium planè conspicere est, musculares obtinent_, ubi supr. §. 16. And in the next §, _Ut pro datâ occasione majorem aëris copiam exsufflent, aut materiam extussiendam ejiciant, fibris muscularibus donatæ, sese arctiùs contrahunt, contentaque sua penitùs exterminant. Et enim ordinariæ pectoris Systolæ, quas musculorum relaxationes ex parte efficiunt, aërem forsan totum à Tracheâ & Bronchiis, haud tamen à Vesiculis, quâque vice ejiciunt: propter has (quoties opus erit) inaniendas, & totius Pectoris cavitas plurimùm angustatur, & cellulæ ipsæ vesiculures à propriis fibris constrictis coarctantur._

[i] _Circa hos motus [Scil. Pectoris dilatationem, &c.] divini Conditoris mechanicen, ad regulas Mathematicas planè adaptaram, satis admirari non possumus; siquidem nullâ aliâ in re manifestùs Ὁ Θεὸς γεωμετρεῖν videtur. Quippe cùm pectoris, tum ampliato, tum coarctatio à quibusdam Musculis (quorum munus unicum est contrahere) perfici debeat; res ita instituitur, ut Costæ quæ thoracis, volut parallelogrammi oblongi versus cylindrum incurvati, latera efformant, in figuram modò quadratam, cum angulis rectis, pro pectoris ampliatione; modò in rhomboeidem, cum angulis acutis pro ejusdem contractione, ducantur, ~&c.~_ Willis, _ubi supr._ §. 28.

_Galen_ having spoken of the Parts ministring to Respiration, concludeth, _Nihil usquam à Naturâ ullo pacto per incuriam, fuisse præteritum, qua cùm omnia præsentiret & provideret, quæ sunt necessaria illa, quæ causa alicujus extiterunt, confecutura, omnibus instaurationes parare occupavit, cujus apparatus copiosa facultas admirabilem Sapientiam testantur._ De us. part. l. 5. c. 15. See also _l. 6. c. 1._

[k] For the Structure of the _Intercostals_, _Midriff_, &c. I shall refer to Dr. _Willis_, and other Anatomists. Bur Dr. _Drake_ taxeth Dr. _Willis_ with an Error in fancying there is an Opposition in the Office of the _Intercostals_, by reason that the Fibres of the _external_ and _internal Intercostals_ decussate; that therefore the _external_ serve to raise the Ribs, the _internal_ to draw them down. But Dr. _Drake_ is of _Steno_’s, and Dr. _Mayow_’s Opinion, that notwithstanding the Decussation of their Fibres, the Power they exert upon, and the Motion they effect in the Ribs, is one and the same. _Drake_’s _Anat._ l. 2. c. 7. and l. 4. c. 5. _Mayow de Respir._ c. 7.

[l] Although Dr. _Drake_ and some others deny the _Intercostals_ being Antagonist-Muscles, as in the preceding Note, yet they, and most other Anatomists that I have met with, attribute a considerable Power to them in the act of Respiration, as they do also to the _Subclavian_ and _Triangular Muscles_: but the learned _Etmuller_ denies it for these three Reasons, _1. Quia respirando nullam in illis contractionem sentio. 2. Quia——sibi invicem non adducuntur, ~&c.~ 3. Quia Costæ omnes ab aliis modò enarratis musculis moventur, idque simul, ~&c.~ Intercostales itaque, necnon Subclavios Musculos Costis, parietum instar, ad complenda interstitia intercostalia, pectusque integrandum, ac Costas connectendas, intertectos esse, probabiliter concludo; quo munere triangulares etiam——fungi, rationi consentaneum est._ Etmul. Dissert. 2. cap. 4. §. 6.

But as to the Use of the _Triangular Muscle_ in Respiration, we may judge of it, from its remarkable Size, and Use in a Dog; of which Dr. _Willis_ gives this Account from _Fallopius_: _In Homine parvus adeò & subtilis iste ~[Musculus]~ est, ut vix pro Musculo accipi queat: in Cane per totum os pectoris protenditur, & cartilagines omnes, etiam verarum Costarum sterno inosculatas, occupat: Cujus discriminis ratio divinam circa Animalium fabricas Providentiam planè indigitat. Quippe cùm hoc animal, ad cursus velocissimos & diu continuandos natum, quo sanguis, dum intensiùs agitatur, ritè accendatur eventileturque, aërem celerrimè & fortiter uti inspirare, ita etiam exspirare debet——idcirco propter hunc actum firmiùs obeundum (cujus in Homine haud magnus est usus) musculus caninas molem ingentem & tanto operi parem fortitur._ Willis _ubi supr._ §. 32.

[m] _Ray_’s Wisdom of God in the Creation, p. 343.

[n] Mr. _Cheselden_, an ingenious and most accurate Anatomist, having somewhat particular in his Observations about the Circulation of the Blood through the Heart of the _Fœtus_, I shall present the Reader with some of his Observations, which he favoured me with the Sight of. _The Blood_ (saith he) _which is brought to the Heart by the ascending Cava, passes out of the right Auricle into the left, through a Passage called ~Foramen Ovale~, in the ~Septum~ ~[common to them both]~ without passing through the right Ventricle (as after the Birth) while the Blood from the descending Cava passeth through the right Auricle and Ventricle into the pulmonary Artery, and thence into the ~Aorta~ through the Duct, betwixt that and the pulmonary Artery, called ~Ductus Arteriosus~, whilst a small Portion of the Blood, thrown into the pulmonary Artery passeth through the Lungs, no more than is sufficient to keep open the pulmonary Vessels. Thus both Ventricles are employed in driving the Blood through the ~Aorta~ to all Parts of the ~Fœtus~, and to the Mother too. But after the Birth, the Blood being to be driven from the ~Aorta~ through the ~Fœtus~ alone, and not the Mother too, one Ventricle becomes sufficient, whilst the other is employed in driving the Blood through the Lungs, the ~Ductus Arteriosus~ being shut up by means of the Alteration of its Position, which happens to it from the raising the ~Aorta~ by the Lungs when they become inflated. After that the Blood is thus driven into the Lungs, in its return it shuts the ~Valve~ of the ~Foramen Ovale~ against the ~Foramen~ it self, to whose Sides it soon adheres, and so stops up the Passage. The ~Ductus Arteriosus~, or ~Ductus Arteriosus in Ligamentum versus~, is seldom to be discerned in adult Bodies, but the Figure of the Foramen ~Ovale~ is never obliterated._

[o] It hath been generally thought to be not improbable, but that on some Occasions the _Foramen Ovale_ may remain open in Man. In a Girl of four or five Years of Age, Dr. _Connor_ found it but half closed, and in the Form of a Crescent. And he thinks somewhat of this kind might be in the Person whose Skeleton was found to have no Joynts in the Back-Bone, Ribs, _&c._ Of which a Description, with Cuts, may be found in _Phil. Trans._ Nᵒ. 215. and more largely in his _Dissert. Med. Phys. de stupendo Ossium coalitu_, where he adds to the Girl, in whom the _For. Ov._ was not shut, a like Observation of another Girl he opened at _Oxford_ of three Years Old, _In quâ Foramen Ovals ferè erat occlusum, in medio tamen, exili foramine, per quod Turundam facilè transmisi, erat pervium_, pag. 30. So Mr. _Cowper_ (than whom none more accurate and a better Judge) saith, _I have often found the ~Foramen Ovale~ open in the Adult._ Anat. Append. Fig. 3. But Mr. _Cheselden_ is of a different Opinion. Of which in the following Note.

From somewhat of this Cause I am apt to think it was that the _Tronningholm Gardiner_ escaped drowning, and some others mentioned by _Pechlin_. His Stories are, _Hortulanus Tronningholmensis etiamnum vivens, annos natos 65, pro illâ ætate satis adhuc valens & vegetus, cùm ante 18 annos, alii in aquas delapso opem ferre vellet, forte fortunâ & ipse per glaciem incautiùs procedens, aquas incidet 18 ulnas profundas: ubi ille, corpore erecto quasi ad perpendiculum, pedibus fundo adhæsit. Constitit sic per 16 horas, antequàm produceretur in auras. Dixit autem, simul ac infra aquarum superficiem fuit demersus, statim obriguisse totum, &, si quem tum habuit motum & sensum, amisisse, nisi quod sonantes Stockolmii campanas etiam sub aquis obscuriùs percipere sibi sit visus. Sensit etiam, statim sese velut vesiculam ori applicâsse, adeò ut aqua nulla os penetraverit, in aures verò transitum, etiam sentiente illo, habuerit; atque inde auditum suum debilitatum aliquandiu esse. Hoc statu dum 16 horas permansit frustrà quæsitus, tandem repertum, conto in caput infixo, cujus etiam sensum se habuisse dixit, fundo extraxerunt, sperantes ex more aut persuasione gentis revicturum esse. Itaque pannis linteisque productum obvolvunt, ne aër admitti possit perniciosus futurus subito illapsu: custoditum sic satis ab aëre sensim sensimque tepidiori loco admovent mox calidis adoriuntur fasciis, fricant, radunt, & sufflaminatum tot horis sanguinis corporisque motum negotiosâ illâ operâ reducunt: denique antapoplecticis & genialibus liquoribus vitæ reddunt & pristinæ mobilitati. Retulit is atque ostendit se etiamnum in capite circumferre vestigia violentiæ à conto illatæ, & cephalalgiis vexari gravissimis. Et propter hunc ipsum casum, religiosè à popularibus, & hujusce rei testibus probatum, Serenissimæ Reginæ matris munificentiâ & annuo stipendio est donatus——& Serenis. Principi——oblatus, vivus sui testis——Consignatam manu habes Historiam D. Tilasii, Biblioth. Reg. Præfecti, qui testatus est se prænovisse mulierem, quæ tres ipsos dies sub aquis hæsit, & similem in modum, quo Hortulanus ille, resuscitata, adhuc dum lucis plenâ fruitur usurâ. Accedit Nob. Burmanni——fides. qui confessus est,——se in pago ~Boness~ parochiæ ~Pithoviæ~ concionem frequentâsse funebrem, in quâ, dum acta recenseret Præco Senis cujusdam septuagenarii Laur. Jonæ——audiverit ex ore Concionatoris, vivum eum, adolescentum 17 annorum, aquis submersum, 7 demum hebdomadâ (rem prodigiosam!) extractum ad se rediisse vivum & incolumem._ Pechlin. de Aer. & Alim. def. c. 10.

Shall we to this Cause, or to the Ossification, or more than ordinary Strength of the Wind-Pipe, attribute the Recovery to Life of Persons hanged? Of which _Pechlin_ gives an Instance that fell under his own Knowledge, of a Woman hanged, and in all Appearance dead, but recovered by a Physician accidentally coming in, with a plentiful Administration of _Spir. Sal. Armon. Pechl. ib._ c. 7. And the Story of _Anne Green_, executed at _Oxford_, _Dec. 14. 1650._ is still well remembered among the Seniors there. _She was hanged by the Neck near half an Hour, some of her Friends in the mean Time thumping her on the Breast, others hanging with all their Weight upon her Legs, sometimes lifting her up, and then pulling her down again with a sudden Jirk, thereby the sooner to dispatch her out of her Pain_: as her printed Account wordeth it. After she was in her Coffin, being observed to breath, a lusty Fellow stamped with all his Force on her Breast and Stomach, to put her out of her Pain. But by the assistance of Dr _Peity_, Dr. _Willis_, Dr. _Bathurst_, and Dr. _Clark_, she was again brought to Life. I my self saw her many Years after, after that she had (I heard) born divers Children. The Particulars of her Crime, Execution and Restauration, see in a little Pamphlet, called _News from the Dead_, written, as I have been informed, by Dr. _Bathurst_, (afterwards the most vigilant and learned President of _Trinity-College, Oxon_,) and published in 1651. with Verses upon the Occasion.

[p] The Sea-Calf hath the _Foramen Ovale_, by which means it is enabled to stay long under the Water, as the _Paris. Anatomists_. Of which see in _Book VI. Chap. 5. Note (c)._

But the fore-commended Mr. _Cheselden_ thinks the _Foramen Ovale_ is neither open in amphibious Creatures, nor any adult Land-Animals. _When I first_ (saith he) _applied my self to the Dissection of Human Bodies, I had no distrust of the frequent Accounts of the ~Foramen Ovale~ being open in Adults: but I find since, that I mistook the ~Ostium Venarum Coronariarum~ for the ~Foramen~. The like I suppose Authors have done, who assert that it is always open in amphibious Animals: for we have made diligent Enquiry into those Animals, and never found it open. Neither would that (as they imagine) serve these Creatures to live under Water, as the ~Fœtus~ doth in ~Utero~, unless the ~Ductus Arteriosus~ was open also._

This Opinion of Mr. _Cheselden_ hath this to render it probable, that the _Ostium Venarum Coronariarum_ is so near the _Foramen Ovale_, that without due regard, it may be easily mistaken for it. Such therefore as have Opportunity of examining this Part in amphibious Animals, or any other Subject, ought to seek for the _Ostium_, whenever they suspect they have met with the _Foramen_.

[q] Of the singular Conformation of the Heart and Lungs of the _Tortoise_, which is an amphibious Animal. See _Book VI. Chap. 5. Note (b)._

[r] _Acts_ xvii. 25.

CHAP. VIII.

_Of the Motion of Animals._

Next to the two grand Acts of animal Life, their Sense or Respiration, I shall consider their _Motion_, or _locomotive Faculty_; whereby they convey themselves from Place to Place, according to their Occasions, and Way of Life: And the admirable Apparatus to this Purpose, is a plain Demonstration of God’s particular Foresight, Care, and especial Providence towards all the animal World.

And here I might view in the first Place the Muscles, their curious Structure[a], the nice tacking them to every Joynt, to pull it this Way, and that Way, and the other Way, according to the special Purpose, Design, and Office of every such Joint: Also their various Size and Strength; some large and corpulent, others less, and some scarce visible to the naked Eye; all exactly fitted to every Place, and every use of the Body. And lastly, I might take Notice of the muscular Motions, both involuntary and spontaneous[b].

Next, I might survey the special Fabrick of the Bones[c], ministring to animal Motion. Next, I might take notice of the Joynts[d], their compleat Form adjusted to the Place, and Office they are employed in; their Bandage, keeping them from Luxations; the oily Matter[e] to lubricate them, and their own Smoothness to facilitate their Motion.

And lastly, I might trace the various Nerves throughout the Body; sent about to minister to its various Motions[f]. I might consider their Origine[g], their Ramifications to the several Parts, and their Inosculations with one another, according to the Harmony and Accord of one Part with another, necessary for the Benefit of the Animal. But some of those Things I have given some Touches upon already, and more I shall mention hereafter[h], and it would be tedious here to insist upon them all.

I shall therefore only speak distinctly to the Locomotive Act it self, or what directly relates to it.

And here it is admirable to consider the various Methods of Nature[i], suited to the Occasions of various Animals. In some their Motion is swift, in others slow. In some performed with two, four, or more Legs: in some with two, or four Wings: in some with neither[k].

And first for swift or slow Motion. This we find is proportional to the Occasions of each respective Animal. _Reptiles_, whose Food, Habitation, and Nests, lie in the next Clod, Plant, Tree, or Hole, or can bear long Hunger and Hardship, they need neither Legs nor Wings for their Transportation; but their vermicular or sinuous Motion (performed with no less Art, and as curiously provided for as the Legs or Wings of other Creatures: This, I say,) is sufficient for their Conveyance.

_Man_ and _Beasts_, whose Occasions require a large Room, have accordingly a swifter Motion, with proper Engines for that Service; answerable to their Range for Food, their Occupation of Business, or their want of Armature, and to secure them against Harms[l].

But for the winged Creatures (Birds and Insects,) as they are to traverse large Tracts of Land and Water, for their Food, for their commodious Habitation, or Breeding their Young, to find Places of Retreat and Security from Mischiefs; so they have accordingly the Faculty of flying in the Air; and that swiftly or slowly, a long or short a Time, according to their Occasions and Way of Life. And accordingly their Wings, and whole Body, are curiously prepared for such a Motion; as I intend to shew in a proper Place[m].

Another remarkable Thing in the motive Faculty of all Creatures, is the neat, geometrical Performance of it. The most accurate Mathematician, the most skilful in mechanick Motions, can’t prescribe a nicer Motion (than what they perform) to the Legs and Wings of those that walk or fly[n], or to the Bodies of those that creep[o]. Neither can the Body be more compleatly poised for the Motion it is to have in every Creature, than it already actually is. From the largest Elephant, to the smallest Mite, we find the Body artfully balanced[p]. The Head not too heavy, nor too light for the rest of the Body, nor the rest of the Body for it[q]. The _Viscera_ are not let loose, or so placed, as to swag, over-balance, or over-set the Body; but well-braced, and distributed to maintain the æquipoise of the Body. The motive Parts also are admirably well fixed in respect to the Center of Gravity; placed in the very Point, fittest to support and convey the Body. Every Leg beareth his true Share of the Body’s Weight. And the Wings so nicely are set to the Center of Gravity, as even in that fluid _Medium_, the Air, the Body is as truly balanced, as we could have balanced it with the nicest Scales.

But among all Creatures, none more elegant than the sizing the Body of _Man_, the gauging his Body so nicely, as to be able to stand erect, to stoop, to sit, and indeed to move any way, only with the Help of so small a Stay as the Feet[r]: whose Mechanism of Bones, Tendons and Muscles to this purpose, is very curious and admirable.

FOOTNOTES:

[a] That the Muscles are compounded of Fibres, is visible enough. Which Fibres, the curious and ingenious _Borelli_ saith, are cylindraceous; not hollow, but filled with a spungy, pithy Substance, after the manner of Elder, as he discovered by his Microscopes. _Borel. de Mot. Animal._ Part 1. These Fibres, he saith, are naturally white; but derive their Redness only from the Blood in them.

These Fibres do in every Muscle, (in the Belly at least of the Muscle,) run parallel to one another, in a neat orderly Form. But they do not at all tend the same Way, but some run aslant, some longways, _&c._ according to the Action or Position of each respective Muscle. The Particulars of which, and of divers other Observables in the Muscles, would, besides Figures, take up too much room in these Notes; and therefore I must refer to the Anatomists, particularly _Steno_, _Borelli_, _Cowper_, &c.

[b] The infinite Creator hath generally exerted his Art and Care, in the Provision made by proper Muscles and Nerves, for all the different Motions in animal Bodies, both involuntary, and voluntary. It is a noble Providence that most of the vital Motions, such as of the Heart, Stomach, Guts, _&c._ are involuntary, the Muscles acting whether we sleep or wake, whether we will or no. And it is no less providential that some, even of the vital Motions, are partly voluntary, partly involuntary, as that for Instance, of Breathing, which is performed both sleeping and waking; but can be intermitted for a short Time on occasion, as for accurate hearing any Thing, _&c._ or can be encreased by a stronger Blast, to make the greater Discharges of the Blood from the Lungs, when that any Thing overcharges them. And as for the other Motions of the Body, as of the Limbs, and such as are voluntary, it is a no less Providence, that they are absolutely under the Power of the Will; so as that the Animal hath it in his Power to command the Muscles and Spirits of any part of its Body, to perform such Motions and Actions as it hath Occasion for.

[c] _Quid dicam de Ossibus? quæ subjecta corpori mirabiles commissuras habent, & ad stabilitatem aptas, & ad artus finiendos accommodatas, & ad motum, & ad omnem corporis actionem._ Cicer. de Nat. Deor. l. 2. c. 55.

By Reason it would be endless to mention all the Curiosities observable in the Bones, I shall for a Sample, single out only an Instance or two, to manifest that Design was used in the Structure of these Parts in Man.

The first shall be in the _Back-Bone_, which (among many others) hath these two Things remarkable. 1. Its different Articulations from the other Joynts of the Body. For here most of the Joynts are flat, and withal guarded with Asperities and Hollows, made for catching and holding; so as firmly to lock and keep the Joynts from Luxations, but withal to afford them such a Motion, as is necessary for the Incurvations of the Body. 2. The difference of its own Joynts in the Neck, Back and Loins. In the Neck, the _Atlas_, or upper _Vertebra_, as also the _Dentata_, are curiously made, and joynted (differently from the rest) for the commodious and easie bending and turning the Head every way. In the _Thorax_, or Back, the Joynts are more close and firm; and in the Loins, more lax and pliant; as also the Spines are different, and the Knobs and Sockets turned the quite contrary way, to answer the Occasions the Body hath to bend more there, than higher in the Back. I shall close this Remark with the ingenious Dr. _Keil_’s Observation.

_The Structure of the ~Spine~ is the very best that can be contrived; for had it been all Bone, we could have had no Motion in our Backs; had it been of two or three Bones articulated for Motion, the ~Medulla Spinalis~ must have been necessarily bruised at every Angle or Joynt; besides, the whole would not have been so pliable for the several Postures we have occasion to put our selves in. If it had been made of several Bones without intervening Cartilages, we should have had no more Use of it, than if it had been but one Bone. If each ~Vertebra~ had had its own distinct Cartilages, it might have been easily ~dislocated~. And lastly, The oblique Processes of each superior and inferior ~Vertebra~, keep the middle one that it can neither be thrust backwards nor forwards to compress the ~Medulla Spinalis~._ _Keil_’s _Anat._ c. 5. §. 8.

Compare here what _Galen_ saith of the Articulations, Ligaments, Perforation, _&c._ of the _Spine_, to prove the Wisdom and Providence of the Maker of animal Bodies, against such as found fault with Nature’s Works; among which he names _Diagoras_, _Anaxagoras_, _Asclepiades_ and _Epicurus_. _V._ _Galen. de Us. Part. L. 12. init._ and _Chap. 11_, _&c._ also _L. 13. init._

2. The next Instance shall be in one or two Things, wherein the Skeletons of Sexes differ. Thus the _Pelvis_ made in the Belly by the _Ilium_, _Ossa Coxendicis_ and _Pubis_, is larger in a Female than Male Skeleton, that there may be more room for the lying of the _Viscera_ and _Fœtus_. So the Cartilage bracing together the two _Ossa Pubis_, or _Sharebones_, _Bartholine_ saith, is twice thicker and laxer in Women than Men: As also is the Cartilage that tieth the _Os Sacrum_ to its _Vertebra_; and all to give way to the Passage of the _Fœtus_.

Another considerable Difference is in the cartilaginous Production of the seven long Ribs, whereby they are braced to the Breast-Bone. These are harder and firmer in Women than in Men; the better to support the Weight of the Breasts, the sucking Infant, _&c._

[d] It is remarkable in the Joynts, and a manifest Act of Caution and Design, 1. That altho’ the Motion of the Limbs be circular, yet the Center of that Motion is not in a Point, but an ample Superficies. In a Point, the Bones would wear and penetrate one another; the Joynts would be exceedingly weak, _&c._ but the Joynts consisting of two large Superficies, Concave and Convex, some furrowed and ridged, some like a Ball and Socket, and all lubricated with an oily Substance, they are incomparably prepared both for Motion and Strength. 2. That the Bones next the Joynt are not spungy, as their Extremities commonly are, nor hard and brittle, but capped with a strong, tough, smooth, cartilaginous Substance, serving both to Strength and Motion.

But let us here take notice of what _Galen_ mentions on this Subject. _Articulorum unusquisque Eminentiam Cavitati immissam habet: Veruntamen hoc fortasse non adeò mirabile est: Sed si, consideratâ omnium totius corporis ossium mutuâ connexione, Eminentias cavitatibus suscipientibus æquales semper inveneris; Hoc mirabile. Si enim justo amplior esset Cavitas, laxus sanè & infirmus fieret Articulus; si strictior, motus difficulter fieret, ut qui nullam versionem haberet; ac periculum esset non parvum, eminintias ossium arctatas frangi: sed horum neutrum factum est.——Sed quoniam ex tam securâ constructione periculum erat, nè motiones difficiliùs fierent, & eminentiæ ossium extererentur, duplex rursus auxilium in id Natura molita est. 1. Cartilagine os utrumque subungens, atque oblinens: alterum, ipsis Cartilaginibus humorem unctuosum, velut oleum, superfundens; per quem facilè mobilis, & attritu contumax omnis articulatio Ossium facta est.——Ut undique diligenter Articulus omnis custodiretur, Ligamenta quædam ex utroque osse produxit Natura._ Galen de Us. Part. l. 1. c. 15.

[e] For the affording this oily or mucilaginous Matter, there are _Glandules_ very commodiously placed near the Joynts, so as not to suffer too great Compression by the Motion of the neighbouring Bones, and yet to receive a due Pressure, so as to cause a sufficient Emission of the Mucilage into the Joynts. Also another Thing considerable is, that the excretory Ducts of the _mucilaginous Glands_ have some Length in their Passage from the Glands to their Mouths; which is a good Contrivance, to prevent their Mouths being oppressed by the Mucilage, as also to hinder the too plentiful Effusion thereof, but yet to afford a due Expressure of it at all Times, and on all Occasions, as particularly in violent and long-continued Motions of the Joynts, when there is a greater than ordinary Expence of it. See _Cowper_’s _Anat. Tab._ 79.

[f] There is no doubt to be made, but that the Muscles receive their Motion from the Nerves. For if a Nerve be cut, or straightly bound, that goes to any Muscle, that Muscle shall immediately lose its Motion. Which is doubtless the case of Paralyticks; whose Nerves are some of them by Obstructions, or such like Means, reduced to the same State as if cut or bound.

And this also is the cause of that _Numness_ or _Sleepiness_ we find oftentimes, by long sitting or lying on any Part.

Neither is this a modern Notion only: For _Galen_ saith, _Principium Nervorum omnium Cerebrum est, & spinalis Medulla.——Et Nervi à Cerebro animalem virtutem accipiunt——Nervorum utilitas est facultatem Sensûs & Motûs à principio in partes diducere._ And this he intimates to have been the Opinion of _Hippocrates_ and _Plato_. De Us. Part. l. 1. c. 16. _& passim_.

[g] Dr. _Willis_ thinks, that in the _Brain_ the Spirits are elaborated that minister to voluntary Motion; but in the _Cerebellum_, such as effect involuntary, or natural Motions; such as that of the Heart, the Lungs, _&c._ _Cerebri Anat._ c. 15.

[h] See _Book V. Chap. 8._

[i] To the foregoing, I shall briefly add some Examples of the special Provision made for the Motion of some Animals by _Temporary Parts_. _Frogs_ and _Toads_, in their _Tadpole-state_, have Tails, which fall off when their Legs are grown out. The _Lacerta aquatica_, or _Water-Newt_, when Young, hath four neat ramified Fins, two on a Side, growing out a little above its Fore-Legs, to poise and keep its Body upright, (which gives it the Resemblance of a young Fish,) which fall off when the Legs are grown. And the _Nymphæ_ and _Aureliæ_, of all or most of the Insects bred in the Waters, as they have particular Forms, different from the Insects they produce; so have also peculiar Parts afforded them for their Motion in the Waters: Oars, Tails, and every Part adapted to the Waters, which are utterly varied in the Insects themselves, in their mature State in the Air.

[k] _Jam verò alia animalia gradiendo, alia serpendo ad pastum accedunt, alia volando, alia nando._ Cic. de Nat. Deor. l. 2. c. 47.

Compare also what _Galen_ excellently observes concerning the Number of Feet in Man, and in other Animals; and the wise Provision thereby made for the Use and Benefit of the respective Animals. _De Us. Part._ in the beginning of the third Book.

[l] As I shall hereafter shew, that the indulgent Creator hath abundantly provided for the Safety of Animals by their Cloathing, Habitations, Sagacity and Instruments of Defence; so there appears to be a Contemperament of their _Motion_ with these Provisions. They that are well armed and guarded, have commonly a slower Motion; whereas they that are destitute thereof, are swifter. So also timid helpless Animals are commonly swift; thus Deer and Hares: But Animals endowed with Courage, Craft, Arms, _&c._ commonly have a slower Motion.

[m] See _Book VII. Chap. 1._

[n] See _Book VII. Chap. 1._ the end.

[o] See _Book IX. Chap. 1. Note (c)._

[p] _Siquis unquam alius Opifex, æqualitatis & proportionis magnam habuit providentiam, certè Natura habuit in animalium corporibus conformandis; unde Hippocrates eam rectissimè justam nominat._ Galen. de Us. Part. l. 2. c. 16.

[q] The Make of the Bodies of some Water-fowl, seems to contradict what I here say, the Heads and long Necks of some, as of Swans, Ducks and Geese; and the hinder Parts of others, as of the Doucker and More-hen, and some other Kinds, seeming to be too heavy for the rest of their Body. But instead of being an Argument against, it is a notable Instance of, the divine Art and Providence, these Things being nice Accommodations to their way of Life. Of such as have long Necks, see _Book VII. Chap. 2. Note (i)._

And as for such whose hinder Parts seem to over-balance their foremost Parts, whereby they fly with their Bodies in a manner erect, this also is an excellent Accommodation to their way of Life, which is Diving rather than Flying. _Vid._ _Book VII. Chap. 4. Note (k)._

[r] See _Book V. Chap. 2. Note (h)._

CHAP. IX.

_Of the Place allotted to the several Tribes of Animals._

Having dispatched the Motion of Animals, let us in the next Place consider the _Place_ which the infinitely wise Creator hath appointed them to move and act, and perform the Offices of the Creation in. And here we find every Particular well ordered. All Parts of our Terraqueous Globe fit for an Animal to live and act in, are sufficiently stocked with proper Inhabitants: The watery Element (unfit, one would think, for Respiration and Life) abounding with Creatures fitted for it; its Bowels abundantly stored, and its Surface well bespread. The Earth also is plentifully stocked in all its Parts, where Animals can be of any Use; not probably the deepest Bowels thereof indeed, being Parts in all likelihood unfit for Habitation and Action, and where a living Creature would be useless in the World; but the Surface every where abundantly stored.

But that which is most considerable in this Matter, and plainly sheweth the divine Management in the Case, is, that those Creatures are manifestly designed for the Place in which they are, and the Use and Services they perform therein. If all the Animals of our Globe had been made by Chance, or placed by Chance, or without the divine Providence, their Organs would have been otherwise than they are, and their Place and Residence confused and jumbled. Their Organs (for Instance) of Respiration, of Vision, and of Motion, would have fitted any _Medium_, or have needed none; their Stomachs would have served any Food, and their Blood, and Covering of their Bodies been made for any Clime, or only one Clime. Consequently all the Animal World would have been in a confused, inconvenient, and disorderly Commixture. One Animal would have wanted Food, another Habitation, and most of them Safety. They would have all flocked to one, or a few Places, taken up their Rest in the Temperate Zones only, and coveted one Food, the easiest to be come at, and most specious in shew; and so would have poisoned, starved, or greatly incommoded one another. Bur as the Matter is now ordered, the Globe is equally bespread, so that no Place wanteth proper Inhabitants, nor any Creature is destitute of a proper Place, and all Things necessary to its Life, Health, and Pleasure. As the Surface of the Terraqueous Globe is covered with different Soils, with Hills and Vales, with Seas, Rivers, Lakes and Ponds, with divers Trees and Plants, in the several Places; so all these have their Animal Inhabitants, whole Organs of Life and Action are manifestly adapted to such and such Places and Things; whose Food and Physick, and every other Convenience of Life, is to be met with in that very Place appointed it. The watery, the amphibious[a], the airy Inhabitants, and those on the dry Land Surface, and the Subterraneous under it, they all live and act with Pleasure, they are gay, and flourish in their proper Element and allotted Place, they want neither for Food, Cloathing, or Retreat; which would dwindle and die, destroy, or poison one another, if all coveted the same Element, Place, or Food.

Nay, and as the Matter is admirably well ordered, yet considering the World’s increase, there would not be sufficient Room, Food, and other Necessaries for all the living Creatures, without another grand Act of the divine Wisdom and Providence, which is the _Balancing the Number of Individuals_ of each Species of Creatures, in that Place appointed thereto: Of which in the next Chapter.

FOOTNOTES:

[a] _Est etiam admiratio nonnulla in bestiis aquatilibus iis, quæ gignuntur in terrâ: veluti Crocodili, fluviatilesque Testudines, quædamque Serpentes ortæ extra aquam, simul ac primùm niti possunt, aquam persequuntur. Quin etiam Anatum ova Gallinis sæpe supponimus——~[Pulli]~ deinde eas ~[matres]~ relinquunt——& effugiunt, cùm primùm aquam, quasi naturalem domum, videre potuerunt._ Cic. de Nat. Deor. l. 2. c. 48.

CHAP. X.

_Of the Balance of Animals, or the due Proportion in which the World is flocked with them._

The whole Surface of our Globe can afford Room and Support only to such a Number of all Sorts of Creatures. And if by their doubling, trebling, or any other Multiplication of their Kind, they should encrease to double or treble that Number, they must starve, or devour one another. The keeping therefore the Balance even, is manifestly a Work of the divine Wisdom and Providence. To which end, the great Author of Life hath determined the Life of all Creatures to such a Length, and their Increase to such a Number, proportional to their Use in the World. The Life of some Creatures is long, and their Increase but small, and by that means they do not over-stock the World. And the same Benefit is effected, where the Increase is great, by the Brevity of such Creatures Lives, by their great Use, and the frequent Occasions there are of them for Food to Man, or other Animals. It is a very remarkable Act of the Divine Providence, that useful Creatures are produced in great Plenty[a], and others in less. The prodigious and frequent Increase of Insects, both in and out of the Waters, may exemplify the one; and ’tis observable in the other, that Creatures less useful, or by their Voracity pernicious, have commonly fewer Young, or do seldomer bring forth: Of which many Instances might be given in the voracious Beasts and Birds. But there is one so peculiar an Animal, as if made for a particular Instance in our present Case, and that is the _Cuntur_ of _Peru_[b]: A Fowl of that Magnitude, Strength and Appetite, as to seize not only on the Sheep, and lesser Cattle, but even the larger Beasts, yea, the very Children too. Now these, as they are the most pernicious of Birds, so are they the most rare, being seldom seen, or only one, or a few in large Countries; enough to keep up the Species; but not to over-charge the World.

Thus the Balance of the animal World, is, throughout all Ages, kept even; and by a curious Harmony, and just Proportion between the Increase of all Animals, and the Length of their Lives, the World is through all Ages well; but not over-stored: _One Generation passeth away, and another Generation cometh_[c]; so equally in its Room, to balance the Stock of the terraqueous Globe in all Ages, and Places, and among all Creatures; that it is an actual Demonstration of our Saviour’s Assertion, _Mat._ x. 29. that the most inconsiderable, common Creature, _Even a Sparrow (two of which are sold for a Farthing) doth not fall on the Ground without our heavenly Father._

This Providence of God is remarkable in every Species of living Creatures: But that especial Management of the Recruits and Decays of Mankind, so equally all the World over, deserves our especial Observation. In the Beginning of the World, and so after _Noah_’s Flood, the Longævity of Men, as it was of absolute Necessity to the more speedy peopling of the new World; so is a special Instance of the divine Providence in this Matter[d]. And the same Providence appears in the following Ages, when the World was pretty well peopled, in reducing the common Age of Man then to 120 Years, (_Gen._ vi. 3.) in Proportion to the Occasions of the World at that Time. And lastly, when the World was fully peopled after the Flood, (as it was in the Age of _Moses_, and so down to our present Time) the lessening the common Age of Man to 70 or 80 Years[e], (the Age mentioned by _Moses_, _Psal_. xc. 10. this, I say,) is manifestly an Appointment of the same infinite Lord that ruleth the World: For, by this Means, the peopled World is kept at a convenient Stay; neither too full, nor too empty. For if Men (the Generality of them, I mean) were to live now to _Methusalah_’s Age of 969 Years, or only to _Abraham_’s, long after the Flood, of 175 Years, the World would be too much over-run; or if the Age of Man was limited to that of divers other Animals, to ten, twenty, or thirty Years only; the Decays then of Mankind would be too fast: But at the middle Rate mentioned, the Balance is nearly even, and Life and Death keep an equal Pace. Which Equality is so great and harmonious, and so manifest an Instance of the divine Management, that I shall spend some Remarks upon it.

It appears from our best Accounts of these Matters, that in our _European_ Parts[f], and I believe the same is throughout the World; that, I say, there is a certain Rate and Proportion in the Propagation of Mankind: Such a Number marry[g], so many are born, such a Number die; in Proportion to the Number of Persons in every Nation, County, or Parish. And as to Births, two Things are very considerable: One is the Proportion of Males and Females[h], not in a wide Proportion, not an uncertain, accidental Number at all Adventures; but nearly equal. Another Thing is, that a few more are born than appear to die, in any certain Place[i]. Which is an admirable Provision for the extraordinary Emergencies and Occasions of the World; to supply unhealthful Places, where Death out-runs Life; to make up the Ravages of great Plagues, and Diseases, and the Depredations of War, and the Seas; and to afford a sufficient Number for Colonies in the unpeopled Parts of the Earth. Or on the other Hand, we may say, that sometimes those extraordinary Expences of Mankind, may be not only a just Punishment of the Sins of Men; but also a wise Means to keep the Balance of Mankind even; as one would be ready to conclude, by considering the _Asiatick_, and other the more fertile Countries, where prodigious Multitudes are yearly swept away with great Plagues, and sometimes War; and yet those Countries are so far from being wasted, that they remain full of People.

And now upon the whole Matter, What is all this but admirable and plain Management? What can the maintaining throughout all Ages, and Places, these Proportions of Mankind, and all other Creatures; this Harmony in the Generations of Men be, but the Work of one that ruleth the World? Is it possible that every Species of Animals should so evenly be preserved, proportionate to the Occasions of the World? That they should be so well balanced in all Ages and Places, without the Help of almighty Wisdom and Power? How is it possible by the bare Rules, and blind Acts of Nature, that there should be any tolerable Proportion; for Instance, between Males and Females, either of Mankind, or of any other Creature[k]; especially such as are of a ferine, not of a domestick Nature, and consequently out of the Command and Management of Man? How could Life and Death keep such an even Pace through all the animal World? If we should take it for granted, that, according to the Scripture History, the World had a Beginning, (as who can deny it[l]; or if we should suppose the Destruction thereof by _Noah_’s Flood: How is it possible, after the World was replenished,) that in a certain Number of Years, by the greater Increases and Doublings of each Species of Animals; that, I say, this Rate of Doubling[m] should cease; or that it should be compensated by some other Means? That the World should be as well, or better stocked than now it is, in 1656 Years (the Time between the Creation and the Flood; this) we will suppose may be done by the natural Methods of each Species Doubling or Increase: But in double that Number of Years, or at this Distance from the Flood, of 4000 Years, that the World should not be over stock’d, can never be made out, without allowing an infinite Providence.

I conclude then this Observation with the Psalmist’s Words, _Psal._ civ. 29, 30. _Thou hidest thy Face, all Creatures are troubled; thou takest away their Breath, they die, and return to their Dust. Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created; and thou renewest the Face of the Earth._

FOOTNOTES:

[a] _Benigna circa hoc Natura, innocua & esculenta animalia fœcunda generavit._ Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 55.

[b] _Captain ~J. Strong~ gave me this Account, together with a Quill-Feather of the ~Cuntur~ or ~Condor~ of ~Peru~. On the Coast of ~Chili~, they met with this Bird in about 33° S. Lat. not far from ~Mocha~, an Island in the South-Sea,——they shot it sitting on a Cliff, by the Sea-side; that it was 16 Feet from Wing to Wing extended; that the ~Spanish~ Inhabitants told them they were afraid of these Birds, lest they should prey upon their Children. And the Feather he gave me_ (saith the Doctor) _is 2 Feet, 4 Inches long; the Quill-part 5¾ Inches long, and 1½ Inch about in the largest Part. It weighed 3 dr. 17½ gr. and is of a dark brown Colour._ Dr. _Sloane_ in Phil. Trans. Nᵒ. 208.

To this Account, the Doctor, (in a Letter to Mr. _Ray_, _March 31, 1694_, with other Papers of Mr. _Ray_’s, in my Hands,) adds the Testimony of _Jos. Acosta_, l. 4. c. 7. and _Garcilass. de la Vega_, who l. 8. c. 19. saith, _There are other Fowls, call’d ~Cuntur~, and by the ~Spaniards~ corruptly ~Condor~. Many of these Fowls having been kill’d by the ~Spaniards~, had their Proportion taken, and from End to End of their Wings measured 15 or 16 Feet.——Nature, to temper and allay their Fierceness, deny’d them the Talons which are given to the ~Eagle~; their Feet being tipp’d with Claws like a Hen: However, their Beak is strong enough to tear off the Hide, and rip up the Bowels of an ~Ox~. Two of them will attempt a ~Cow~ or ~Bull~, and devour him: And it hath often happened, that one of then alone hath assaulted Boys of ten or twelve Years of Age, and eaten them. Their Colour is black and white, like a ~Magpie~. It is well there are but few of them; for if they were many, they would very much destroy the Cattle. They have on the forepart of their Heads, a Comb, not pointed like that of a ~Cock~; but rather even, in the Form of a Razor. When they come to alight from the Air, they make such an humming Noise, with the fluttering of their Wings, as is enough to astonish, or make a Man deaf._

[c] _Eccles._ i. 4.

[d] The Divine Providence doth not only appear in the Longævity of Man, immediately after the Creation and Flood; but also in their different Longævity at those two Times. Immediately after the Creation, when the World was to be peopled by one Man, and one Woman, the Age of the greatest Part of those on Record, was 900 Years, and upwards. But after the Flood, when there were three Persons by whom the World was to be peopled, none of those Patriarchs, except _Shem_, arriv’d to the Age of 500; and only the three first of _Shem_’s Line, _viz._ _Arphaxad_, _Salah_, and _Eber_, came near that Age; which was in the first Century after the Flood. But in the second Century, we do not find any reached the Age of 240. And in the third Century, (about the latter End of which _Abraham_ was born,) none, except _Terah_, arriv’d to 200 Years: By which Time the World was so well peopled, (that Part of it, at least where _Abraham_ dwelt,) that they had built Cities, and began to be cantoned into distinct Nations and Societies, under their respective Kings; so that they were able to wage War, four Kings against five, _Gen._ xiv. Nay, if the Accounts of _Anian_, _Berosus_, _Manetho_, and others, yea, _Africanus_ be to be credited; the World was so well peopled, even before the Times we speak of, as to afford sufficient Numbers for the great Kingdoms of _Assyria_, _Ægypt_, _Persia_, &c. But learned Men generally, with great Reason, reject these as legendary Accounts. If the Reader hath a Mind to see a Computation of the Increase of Mankind, in the three first Centuries after the Flood, he may find two different Ones of the most learned Archbishop _Usher_, and _Petavius_; together with a Refutation of the so early Beginning of the _Assyrian Monarchy_; as also Reasons for placing _Abraham_ near 1000 Years after the Flood, in our most learned Bishop _Stillingfleet_’s _Orig. Sacr._ Book III. Chap. 4. §. 9.

[e] That the common Age of Man hath been the same in all Ages since the World was peopled, is manifest from prophane, as well as sacred History. To pass by others: _Plato_ lived to the Age of 81, and was accounted an old Man. And those which _Pliny_ reckons up, _l. 7. c. 48._ as rare Examples of long Life, may for the most Part be match’d by our modern Histories; especially such as _Pliny_ himself gave Credit unto. Dr. _Plot_ hath given us divers Instances in his History of _Oxfordshire_, c. 2. §. 3. and c. 8. §. 54. and History of _Staffordshire_, c. 8. §. 91, _&c._ Among others, one is of twelve Tenants of Mr. _Biddulph_’s, that together made 1000 Years of Age. But the most considerable Examples of aged Persons among us, is of old _Parre_ of _Shropshire_, who lived 152 Years 9 Months, according to the learned Dr. _Harvey_’s Account; and _Henry Jenkins_ of _Yorkshire_, who lived 169 Years, according to the Account of my learned and ingenious Friend Dr. _Tancred Robinson_; of both which, with others, see _Lowth. Abridg. Phil. Trans._ V. 3. p. 306. The great Age of _Parre_ of _Shropshire_, minds me of an Observation of the Reverend Mr. _Plaxton_, that in his two Parishes of _Kinardsey_ and _Donington_ in _Shropshire_, every sixth Soul was 60 Years of Age, or upwards, _Phil. Trans._ Nᵒ. 310.

And if we step farther North into _Scotland_, we shall find divers recorded for their great Age: Of which I shall present the Reader with only one modern Example of one _Laurence_, who married a Wife after he was 100 Years of Age, and would go out to Sea a Fishing in his little Boat, when he was 140 Years old; and is lately dead of no other Distemper but mere old Age, saith Sir _Rob. Sibbald_, _Prodr. Hist. Nat. Scot._ p. 44. _and_ l. 3. p. 4.

As for Foreigners, the Examples would be endless; and therefore that of _Joh. Ottele_ shall suffice, who was as famous for his Beard, as for being 115 Years of Age. He was but two _Brabant_ Ells ³⁄₉ high; and his long grey Beard was one Ell ¼ long. His Picture and Account may be seen in _Ephem. Germ. T. 3. Obs. 163._

As for the Story _Roger Bacon_ tells, of one that lived 900 Years by the Help of a certain Medicine, and many other such Stories, I look upon them as fabulous. And no better is that of the _Wandring Jew_, named _Joh. Buttadæus_, said to have been present at our Saviour’s Crucifixion; although very serious Stories are told of his being seen at _Antwerp_, and in _France_, about the Middle of the last Century but one; and before in _Ann. 1542_, conversed with by _Paul_ of _Eitsen_, Bishop of _Sleswick_; and before that, _viz._ in 1228, seen and convers’d with by an _Armenian Archbishop_’s _Gentleman_; and by others at other Times.

If the Reader hath a Mind to see more Examples, he may meet with some of all Ages, in the learned _Hakewill’s Apol. p. 181._ where he will also find that learned Author’s Opinion of the Causes of the Brevity and Length of humane Life. The Brevity thereof he attributeth to a too tender Education, sucking strange Nurses, too hasty Marriages; but above all, to Luxury, high Sauces, strong Liquors, _&c._ The Longævity of the Ancients he ascribes to Temperance in Meat and Drink, anointing the Body, the Use of Saffron and Honey, warm Clothes, lesser Doors and Windows, less Physick and more Exercise.

[f] The Proportions which Marriages bear to Births, and Births to Burials, in divers Parts of Europe, may be seen at an easy View in this Table:

+-----------------------------------------+--------------+-------------+ | Names of the Places. | Marriages to | Births to | | | Births: As | Burials: as | +-----------------------------------------+--------------+-------------+ |_England_ in general. | 1 to 4.63 | 1.12 to 1 | +-----------------------------------------+--------------+-------------+ |_London_. | 1 to 4. | 1 to 1.1 | +-----------------------------------------+--------------+-------------+ |_Hantshire_, from 1569, to 1658. | 1 to 4. | 1.2 to 1 | +-----------------------------------------+--------------+-------------+ |_Tiverton_ in _Devon_, 1560, to 1649. | 1 to 3.7 | 1.26 to 1 | +-----------------------------------------+--------------+-------------+ |_Cranbrook_ in _Kent_, 1560, to 1649. | 1 to 3.9 | 1.6 to 1 | +-----------------------------------------+--------------+-------------+ |_Aynho_ in _Northamptonshire_ for 118 Y. | 1 to 6 | 1.6 to 1 | +-----------------------------------------+--------------+-------------+ |_Leeds_ in _Yorkshire_ for 122 Years. | 1 to 3.7 | 1.07 to 1 | +-----------------------------------------+--------------+-------------+ |_Harwood_ in _Yorkshire_ 57 Years. | 1 to 3.4 | 1.23 to 1 | +-----------------------------------------+--------------+-------------+ |_Upminster_ in _Essex_ 100 Years. | 1 to 4.6 | 1.08 to 1 | +-----------------------------------------+--------------+-------------+ |_Frankfort_ on the _Main_ in 1695. | 1 to 3.7 | 1.2 to 1 | +-----------------------------------------+--------------+-------------+ | Old middle and lower _Marck_ in 1698. | 1 to 3.7 | 1.9 to 1 | +-----------------------------------------+--------------+-------------+ | Domin. of the K. of _Prussia_ in 1698. | 1 to 3.7 | 1.5 to 1 | +-----------------------------------------+--------------+-------------+ |_Breslaw_ in _Silesia_ from 1687 to 1691.| | 1.6 to 1 | +-----------------------------------------+--------------+-------------+ |_Paris_ in 1670, 1671, 1672. | 1 to 4.7 | 1 to 1.6 | +-----------------------------------------+--------------+-------------+

Which Table I made from Major _Graunt_’s Observations on the Bills of Mortality; Mr. _King_’s Observations in the first of Dr. _Davenant_’s _Essays_; and what I find put together by my ingenious Friend Mr. _Lowthorp_, in his _Abridgment_, Vol. 3. p. 668. and my own Register of _Upminster_. That from _Aynho_ Register in _Northamptonshire_, I had from the present Rector, the learned and ingenious Mr. _Wasse_: And I was promised some Accounts from the North, and divers others Parts of this Kingdom; but have not yet received them: Only those of _Leeds_ and _Harwood_ in _Yorkshire_, from my curious and ingenious friend Mr. _Thoresby_.

[g] The preceding Table shews, that Marriages, one with another, do each of them produce about four Births; not only in _England_, but in other Parts of _Europe_ also.

And by Mr. _King_’s Estimate, (the best Computations I imagine of any, being derived from the best Accounts; such as the Marriage, Birth, Burial-Act, the Poll Books, _&c._ by his Estimate, I say,) about 1 in 104 marry. For he judgeth the Number of the People in _England_, to be about five Millions and a half; of which about 41000 annually marry. As to what might be farther remarked concerning Marriages, in regard of the Rights and Customs of several Nations, the Age to which divers Nations limited Marriage, _&c._ it would be Endless, and too much out of the Way to mention them: I shall only therefore, for the Reader’s Diversion, take Notice of the Jeer of _Lactantias_, _Quare apud Poetas salacissimus ~Jupiter~ desiit liberos tollere? Utrum sexagenarius factus, & ei Lex Papia fibulam imposuit?_ Lactant. Instit. l. 1. c. 16. By which _Lex Papia_, Men were prohibited to marry after 60, and Women after 50 Years of Age.

[h] _Major Graunt_, (whose Conclusions seem to be well-grounded,) and Mr. _King_, disagree in the Proportions they assign to Males and Females. This latter makes in _London_, 10 Males to be to 13 Females; in other Cities and Market-Towns, 8 to 9; and in the Villages and Hamlets, 100 Males to 99 Females. But Major _Graunt_, both from the _London_, and _Country_ Bills, saith, there are 14 Males to 13 Females: From whence he justly infers, _That Christian Religion, prohibiting Polygamy, is more agreeable to the Law of Nature than_ Mahumetism, _and others that allow it_, Chap. 8.

This Proportion of 14 to 13, I imagine is nearly just, it being agreeable to the Bills I have met with, as well as those in Mr. _Graunt_. In the 100 Years, for Example, of my own Parish-Register, although the Burials of Males and Females were nearly equal, being 636 Males, and 623 Females in all that Time; yet there were baptized 709 Males, and but 675 Females, which is 13 Females to 13.7 Males. Which Inequality shews, not only, that one Man ought to have but one Wife; but also that every Woman may, without Polygamy, have an Husband, if she doth not bar her self by the want of Virtue, by Denial, _&c._ Also this Surplusage of Males is very useful for the Supplies of War, the Seas, and other such Expences of the Men above the Women.

That this is a Work of the Divine Providence, and not a Matter of Chance, is well made out by the very Laws of Chance, by a Person able to do it, the ingenious and learned Dr. _Arbuthnot_. He supposeth _Thomas_ to lay against _John_, that for eighty two Years running, more Males shall be born than Females; and giving all Allowances in the Computation to _Thomas_’s side, he makes the Odds against _Thomas_, that it doth not happen so, to be near five Millions of Millions, of Millions, of Millions to one; but for Ages of Ages (according to the World’s Age) to be near an infinite Number to one against _Thomas_. _Vid._ _Phil. Trans._ Nᵒ. 328.

[i] The foregoing Table shews, that in _England_ in general fewer die than are born, there being but 1 Death to 1¹²⁄₁₀₀ Births. But in _London_ more die than are born. So by Dr. _Davenant_’s Table, the Cities likewise and Market-Towns bury ⁷⁄₁₀₀ to one Birth. But in _Paris_ they out-do _London_, their Deaths being 1½ to one Birth: The Reason of which I conceive is, because their Houses are more crowded than in _London_. But in the Villages of _England_, there are fewer die than are born, there being but 1 Death to 1¹⁷⁄₁₀₀ Births. And yet Major _Graunt_, and Dr. _Davenant_, both observe, that there are more Breeders in _London_, and the Cities and Market-Towns, than are in the Country, notwithstanding the _London_-Births are fewer than the Country; the Reason of which see in _Graunt_, _Chap. 7._ and _Davenant ubi supr. p. 21._

The last Remark I shall make from the foregoing Table, shall be, that we may from thence judge of the Healthfulness of the Places there mentioned. If the Year 1698 was the mean Account of the three _Marcks_, those Places bid the fairest for being most healthful; and next to them, _Aynho_ and _Cranbrook_ for _English_ Towns.

[k] _Quid loquar, quanta ratio in bestiis ad perpetuam conservationem earum generis appareat? Nam primum aliæ Mares, aliæ Fœminæ sunt, quod perpetuitatis causâ machinata natura est._ Cic. de Nat. Deor. l. 2. c. 51.

[l] Altho’ _Aristotle_ held the Eternity of the World, yet he seems to have retracted that Opinion, or to have had a different Opinion when he wrote his _Metaphysicks_; for in his first Book he affirms, that _God is the Cause and Beginning of all Things_; and in his Book _de Mundo_ he saith, _There is no doubt, but God is the Maker and Conservator of all Things in the World_. And the _Stoicks_ Opinion is well known, who strenuously contended that the Contrivance and Beauty of the Heavens and Earth, and all Creatures was owing to a wise, intelligent Agent. Of which _Tully_ gives a large Account in his second Book _de Nat. Deor._ in the Person of _Balbus_.

[m] I have before in _Note (g)_, observed, that the ordinary rate of the Doubling or Increase of Mankind is, that every Marriage, one with another, produces about four Births; but some have much exceeded that. _Babo_, Earl of _Abensperg_, had thirty two Sons and eight Daughters, and being invited to hunt with the Emperor _Henry_ II. and bring but few Servants, brought only one Servant, and his thirty two Sons. To these many others might be added; but one of the most remarkable Instances I have any where met with, is that of Mrs. _Honywood_, mentioned by _Hakewill_, _Camden_, and other Authors; but having now before me the Names, with some Remarks (which I received from a pious neighbouring Descendant of the same Mrs. _Honywood_) I shall give a more particular Account than they. Mrs. _Mary Honywood_ was Daughter, and one of the Co-Heiresses of _Robert Atwaters_, Esq; of _Lenham_ in _Kent_. She was born in 1527, married in _February_ 1543, at sixteen Years of Age, to her only Husband _Robert Honywood_, of _Charing_ in _Kent_, Esq; She died in the ninety third Year of her Age, in _May 1620_. She had sixteen Children of her own Body, seven Sons and nine Daughters; of which one had no issue, three died young, and the youngest was slain at _Newport Battle_, _June 20, 1600_. Her Grand-Children in the second Generation, were one hundred and fourteen; in the third two hundred and twenty eight; and nine in the fourth Generation. So that she could say the same that the Distick doth, made of one of the _Dalburg_’s Family of _Basil_:

1 2 3 4 _Mater ait Natæ, dic Natæ, filia Natam_

5 6 _Ut moneat, Natæ, plangere Filiolam._

1 2 3 _Rise up Daughter, and go to thy Daughter,_

4 5 6 _for her Daughters Daughter hath a Daughter._

Mrs. _Honywood_ was a very pious Woman, afflicted, in her declining Age, with Despair, in some measure; concerning which, some Divines once discoursing with her, she in a Passion said, _She was as certainly damned as this Glass is broken_, throwing a _Venice_-Glass against the Ground, which she had then in her Hand. But the Glass escaped breaking, as credible Witnesses attested.

CHAP. XI.

_Of the Food of Animals._

The preceding Reflection of the _Psalmist_, mindeth me of another Thing in common to Animals, that pertinently falleth next under Consideration, which is the _Appointment of Food_, mentioned in Verse 27, 28, of the last cited _Psalm_ civ. _These ~[Creatures]~ wait all upon thee, that thou may’st give them their Meat in due Season. That thou givest them, they gather; thou openest thy Hand, they are filled with Good._ The same is again asserted in _Psal_. cxlv. 15, 16. _The Eyes of all wait upon thee, and thou givest them their Meat in due Season. Thou openest thy Hand, and satisfiest the Desire of every living Thing._

What the _Psalmist_ here asserts, affords us a glorious Scene of the divine Providence and Management. Which, (as I have shew’d it to concern it self in other lesser Things;) so we may presume doth exert it self particularly in so grand an Affair as that of Food, whereby the animal World subsists: And this will be manifested, and the _Psalmist_’s Observations exemplified, from these six following Particulars:

I. From the subsisting and maintaining such a large Number of Animals, throughout all Parts of the World.

II. From the proportionate Quantity of Food to the Eaters.

III. From the Variety of Food suited to the Variety of Animals: Or the Delight which various Animals have in different Food.

IV. From the peculiar Food which peculiar Places afford to the Creatures suited to those Places.

V. From the admirable and curious Apparatus made for the gathering, preparing, and Digestion of the Food. And,

VI. _and lastly_, From the great Sagacity of all Animals, in finding out and providing their Food.

I. It is a great Act of the divine Power and Wisdom, as well as Goodness, to provide Food for such a World of Animals[a], as every where possess the terraqueous Globe; on the dry Land; and in the Sea and Waters; in the torrid and frozen Zones, as well as the temperate. That the temperate Climates, or at least the fertile Valleys, and rich and plentiful Regions of the Earth, should afford Subsistence to many Animals, may appear less wonderful perhaps: But that in all other the most likely Places for Supplies sufficient Food should be afforded to such a prodigious Number, and so great Variety of Beasts, Birds, Fishes and Insects; is owing to that Being, who hath as wisely adapted their Bodies to their Place and Food, as well as carefully provided Food for their Subsistence there.

But I shall leave this Consideration, because it will be illustrated under the following Points; and proceed,

II. To consider the Adjustment of the Quantity of Food, in Proportion to the Eaters. In all Places there is generally enough; nay, such a Sufficiency, as may be styled a Plenty; but not such a Superfluity, as to waste and corrupt, and thereby annoy the World. But that which is particularly remarkable here, is, that among the great Variety of Foods, the most useful is the most plentiful, most universal, easiest propagated, and most patient of Weather, and other Injuries. As the herbaceous Eaters, (for Instance) are many, and devour much; so the dryland Surface we find every where almost naturally carpeted over with Grass, and other agreeable wholsome Plants; propagating themselves in a Manner every where, and scarcely destroyable by the Weather, the Plough, or any Art. So likewise for Grain, especially such as is most useful, how easily is it cultivated, and what a large Increase doth it produce? _Pliny_’s Example of Wheat[b], is a sufficient Instance in this Matter; which (as that curious Heathen observes) being principally useful to the Support of Man, is easily propagated, and in great Plenty: And an happy Faculty that is of it, that it can bear either extreams of Heat or Cold, so as scarce to refuse any Clime.

III. Another wise Provision the Creator hath made relating to the Food of Animals, is, that various Animals delight in various Food[c]; some in Grass and Herbs; some in Grain and Seeds; some in Flesh; some in Insects; some in this[d], some in that; some more delicate and nice; some voracious and catching at any Thing. If all delighted in, or subsisted only with one Sort of Food, there would not be sufficient for all; but every Variety chusing various Food, and perhaps abhorring that which others like, is a great and wise Means that every Kind hath enough, and oftentimes somewhat to spare.

It deserves to be reckoned as an Act of the divine Appointment, that what is wholesome Food to one, is nauseous, and as a Poyson to another; what is a sweet and delicate Smell and Taste to one, is fœtid and loathsome to another: By which Means all the Provisions the Globe affords are well dispos’d of. Not only every Creature is well provided for, but a due Consumption is made of those Things that otherwise would encumber the World, lie in the Way, corrupt, rot, stink and annoy, instead of cherishing and refreshing it. For our most useful Plants, Grain and Fruits, would mould and rot; those Beasts, Fowls and Fishes, which are reckoned among the greatest Dainties, would turn to Carrion, and poyson us: Nay, those Animals which are become Carrion, and many other Things that are noysome, both on the Dry-land, and in the Waters, would be great Annoyances, and breed Diseases, was it nor for the Provision which the infinite Orderer of the World hath made, by causing these Things to be sweet, pleasant, and wholsome Food to some Creature or other, in the Place where those Things fall: To Dogs, Ravens, and other voracious Animals, for Instance, on the Earth; and to rapacious Fishes, and other Creatures inhabiting the Waters.

Thus is the World in some Measure kept sweet and clean, and at the same Time, divers Species of Animals supply’d with convenient Food. Which Providence of God, particularly in the Supplies afforded the _Ravens_, is divers Times taken Notice of in the Scriptures[e]; but whether for the Reasons now hinted, or any other special Reasons, I shall not enquire. Thus our Saviour, _Luke_ xii. 24. _Consider the Ravens; for they neither sow nor reap, which neither have Storehouse, nor Barn, and God feedeth them._ It is a manifest Argument of the divine Care and Providence, in supplying the World with Food and Necessaries, that the _Ravens_, accounted as unclean, and little regarded by Man, destitute of Stores, and that live by Accidents, by what falleth here and there; that such a Bird, I say, should be provided with sufficient Food; especially if that be true, which _Aristotle_[f], _Pliny_[g], and _Ælian_[h], report of their unnatural Affection and Cruelty to their Young: “That they expel them their Nests as soon as they can fly, and then drive them out of the Country”.

Thus having considered the wise Appointment of the Creator, in suiting the Variety of Food, to Variety of Animals: Let us in the

IV. Place, Take a View of the peculiar Food, which particular Places afford to the Creatures inhabiting therein.

It hath been already observed[i], that every Place on the Surface of the terraqueous Globe, is stocked with proper Animals, whose Organs of Life and Action are curiously adapted to each respective Place. Now it is an admirable Act of the divine Providence, that every Place affords a proper Food to all the living Creatures therein. All the various Regions of the World, the different Climates[k], the various Soils, the Seas, the Waters, nay our very Putrefactions, and most nasty Places about the Globe, as they are inhabited by some or other Animal, so they produce some proper Food or other, affording a comfortable Subsistence to the Creatures living there. I might for Instances[l] of this, bring the great Variety of Herbs, Fruits and Grains on the Earth, the large Swarms of Insects in the Air, with every other Food of the Creatures residing in the Earth, or flying in the Air. But I shall stop at the _Waters_, because the _Psalmist_, in the fore-cited civᵗʰ _Psalm_, speaks with relation to the especial Provision for the Inhabitants of the Waters; and also by reason that many Land Animals have their chief Maintenance from thence.

Now one would think, that the Waters were a very unlikely Element to produce Food for so great a Number of Creatures, as have their Subsistence from thence. But yet how rich a Promptuary is it, not only to large multitudes of Fishes, but also to many amphibious Quadrupeds, Insects, Reptiles, and Birds! From the largest _Leviathan_, which the _Psalmist_ saith[m] _playeth in the Seas_, to the smallest Mite in the Lakes and Ponds, all are plentifully provided for; as is manifest from the Fatness of their Bodies, and the Gaiety of their Aspect and Actions.

And the Provision which the Creator hath made for this Service in the Waters is very observable; not only by the Germination of divers aquatick Plants there, but particularly by appointing the Waters to be the Matrix of many Animals, particularly of many of the Insect-Kind, not only of such as are peculiar to the Waters, but also of many appertaining to the Air and the Land, who, by their near Alliance to the Waters, delight to be about them, and by that means become a Prey, and plentiful Food to the Inhabitants of the Waters. And besides these, what prodigious Shoals do we find of minute Animals, even sometimes discolouring the Waters[n]! Of these (not only in the Water, but in the Air and on Land) I have always thought there was some more than ordinary Use intended by the All-wise Creator. And having bent many of my Observations that way, I have evidently found it accordingly to be. For be they never so numberless or minute, those Animals serve for Food to some Creatures or other. Even those Animalcules in the Waters, discoverable only with good Microscopes, are a Repast to others there, as I have often with no less Admiration than Pleasure seen[o].

But now the usual Objection is, that Necessity maketh Use[p]. Animals must be fed, and they make use of what they find: In the desolate Regions, and in the Waters, for Instance, they feed upon what they can come at; but, when in greater Plenty, they pick and chuse.

But this Objection hath been already in some measure answered by what hath been said; which plainly argues Design, and a super-intending Wisdom, Power and Providence in this special Business of Food. Particularly the different Delight of divers Animals in different Food, so that what is nauseous to one, should be Dainties to another, is a manifest Argument, that the Allotment of Food is not a Matter of mere Chance, but entailed to the very Constitution and Nature of Animals; that they chuse this, and refuse that, not by Accident, or Necessity, but because the one is a proper Food, agreeable to their Constitution, and so appointed by the infinite Contriver of their Bodies; and the other is disagreeable and injurious to them.

But all this Objection will be found frivolous, and the Wisdom and Design of the great Creator will demonstratively appear, if we take a Survey,

V. Of the admirable and curious Apparatus in all Animals, made for the Gathering, Preparing and Digestion of their Food. From the very first Entrance, to the utmost Exit of the Food, we find every Thing contrived, made and disposed with the utmost Dexterity and Art, and curiously adapted to the Place the Animal liveth in, and the Food it is to be nourished with.

Let us begin with the _Mouth_. And this we find, in every Species of Animals, nicely conformable to the Use of such a Part; neatly sized and shaped for the catching of Prey, for the gathering or receiving Food[q], for the Formation of Speech, and every other such like Use[r]. In some Creatures it is wide and large, in some little and narrow: in some with a deep Incisure up into the Head[s], for the better catching and holding of Prey, and more easy Comminution of hard, large and troublesome Food; in others with a much shorter Incisure, for the gathering and holding of herbaceous Food.

In _Insects_ it is very notable. In some forcipated; to catch hold and tear their Prey[t]. In some aculeated, to pierce and wound Animals[u], and suck their Blood. And in others strongly rigged with Jaws and Teeth, to gnaw and scrape out their Food, to carry Burdens[w] to perforate the Earth, yea the hardest Wood, yea even Stones themselves, for Houses[x] to themselves, and Nests for their young.

And lastly, in _Birds_ it is no less remarkable. In the first Place, it is neatly shaped for piercing the Air, and making Way for the Body thro’ the airy Regions. In the next Place, it is hard and horny, which is a good Supplement for the want of Teeth, and causeth the Bill to have the Use and Service of the Hand. It’s hooked Form is of great Use to the rapacious Kind[y], in catching and holding their Prey, and in the Comminution thereof by tearing; to others it is no less serviceable to their Climbing, as well as neat and nice Comminution of their Food[z]. Its extraordinary Length and Slenderness is very useful to some, to search and grope for their Food in moorish Places[aa]; as its Length and Breadth is to others to hunt and search in muddy Places[bb]: And the contrary Form, namely, a thick, short, and sharp-edg’d Bill, is as useful to other Birds, who have occasion to husk and flay the Grains they swallow. But it would be endless, and tedious, to reckon up all the various Shapes, and commodious Mechanism of all; the Sharpness and Strength of those who have Occasion to perforate Wood and Shells[cc]; the Slenderness and Neatness of such as pick up small Insects; the Cross-form of such as break up Fruits[dd]; the compressed Form of others[ee], with many other curious and artificial Forms, all suited to the Way of Living, and peculiar Occasions of the several Species of Birds. Thus much for the Mouth.

Let us next take a short View of the _Teeth_[ff], In which their peculiar Hardness[gg] is remarkable, their Growth[hh] also, their firm Insertion and Bandage in the Gums and Jaws, and their various Shape and Strength, suited to their various Occasion and Use[ii]; the foremost weak and farthest from the Center, as being only Preparers to the rest; the others being to grind and mince, are accordingly made stronger, and placed nearer the Center of Motion and Strength. Likewise their various Form[kk], in various Animals is considerable, being all curiously adapted to the peculiar Food[ll], and Occasions of the several Species of Animals[mm]. And lastly, the temporary Defect of them[nn], is no less observable in Children, and such young Creatures, where there is no Occasion for them; but they would be rather an Annoyance to the tender Nipples and Breasts.

From the Teeth, the grand Instruments of Mastication; let us proceed to the other ministerial Parts. And here the _Parotid_, _Sublingual_, and _maxillary Glands_; together with those of the Cheeks and Lips, are considerable; all lodged in the most convenient Places about the Mouth and Throat to afford that noble digestive salival Liquor, to be mixed with the Food in Mastication, and to moisten and lubricate the Passages, to give an easie descent to the Food. The commodious Form also of the Jaws, deserves our Notice; together with the strong Articulation of the lowermost, and its Motion. And lastly, the curious Form, the great Strength, the convenient Lodgment and Situation of the several Muscles and Tendons[oo], all ministring to this so necessary an Act of Life, as Mastication is; they are such Contrivances, such Works, as plainly set forth the infinite Workman’s Care and Skill.

Next to the Mouth, the _Gullet_ presenteth it self; in every Creature well-siz’d to the Food it hath occasion to swallow; in some but narrow, in others as large and extensive[pp]; in all exceedingly remarkable for the curious Mechanism of its Muscles, and the artificial Decussation and Position of their Fibres[qq].

And now we are arriv’d to the grand Receptacle of the Food, the _Stomach_; for the most Part as various as the Food to be convey’d therein. And here I might describe the admirable Mechanism of its Tunicks, Muscles, Glands, the Nerves, Arteries and Veins[rr]; all manifesting the super-eminent Contrivance and Art of the infinite Workman[ss]; they being all nicely adjusted to their respective Place, Occasion and Service. I might also insist upon that most necessary Office of _Digestion_; and here consider that wonderful Faculty of the Stomachs of all Creatures, to dissolve[tt] all the several Sorts of Food appropriated to their Species; even sometimes Things of that Consistency as seem insoluble[uu]; especially by such seemingly simple and weak _Menstruums_ as we find in their Stomachs: But I shall only give these Things a bare mention, and take more peculiar Notice of the Special Provision made in the particular Species of Animals, for the Digestion of that special Food appointed them.

And in the first Place it is observable, that, in every Species of Animals, the Strength and Size of their Stomach[ww] is conformable to their Food. Such whose Food is more delicate, tender, and nutritive, have commonly this Part thinner, weaker, and less bulky; whereas such whose Aliment is less nutritive, or whose Bodies require larger Supplies to answer their Bulk, their Labours, and waste of Strength and Spirits, in them it is large and strong.

Another very remarkable Thing in this Part, is, the Number of Ventricles in divers Creatures. In many but one; in some two or more[xx]. In such as make a sufficient Comminution of the Food in the Mouth, one suffices. But where Teeth are wanting, and the Food dry and hard, (as in granivorous Birds,) there the Defect is abundantly supply’d by one thin membranaceous Ventricle, to receive and moisten the Food, and another thick, strong, muscular one, to grind and tear[yy] it. But in such Birds, and other Creatures, whose Food is not Grain, but Flesh, Fruits, Insects, or partly one, partly the other, there their Stomachs are accordingly conformable to their Food[zz], stronger or weaker, membranaceous or muscular.

But as remarkable a Thing, as any in this Part of Animals, is, the curious Contrivance and Fabrick of the several Ventricles of ruminating Creatures. The very Act it self of _Rumination_, is an excellent Provision for the compleat Mastication of the Food, at the Resting, leisure Times of the Animal. But the Apparatus for this Service, of divers Ventricles for its various Uses and Purposes, together with their curious Mechanism, deserves great Admiration[aaa].

Having thus far pursu’d the Food to the Place, where by its Reduction into Chyle, it becomes a proper Aliment for the Body; I might next trace it through the several Meanders of the _Guts_, the _Lacteals_, and so into the _Blood_[bbb], and afterwards into the very Habit of the Body: I might also take Notice of the Separation made in the _Intestines_, of what is nutritive, (which is received,) and what is feculent, (being ejected;) and the Impregnations there from the _Pancreas_ and the _Gall_; and after it hath been strained through those curious Colanders, the _lacteal Veins_, I might also observe its Impregnations from the _Glands_ and _Lymphæducts_; and, to name no more, I might farther view the exquisite Structure of the Parts ministring to all these delicate Offices of Nature; particularly the artificial Conformation of the Intestines might deserve a special Enquiry, their Tunicks, Glands, Fibres traversing one another[ccc], and peristaltick Motion in all Creatures; and their cochleous Passage[ddd] to retard the Motion of the Chyle, and to make amends for the Shortness of the Intestines, in such Creatures who have but one Gut; together with many other Accommodations of Nature in particular Animals that might be mention’d. But it shall suffice to have given only a general Hint of those curious and admirable Works of God. From whence it is abundantly manifest how little weight there is in the former atheistical Objection. Which will receive a further Confutation from the

VI. and last Thing relating to Food, that I shall speak of, namely, _The great Sagacity of all Animals, in finding out and providing their Food._ In Man perhaps we may not find any Thing very admirable, or remarkable in this Kind, by Means of his Reason and Understanding, and his Supremacy over the inferior Creatures; which answereth all his Occasions relating to this Business: But then even here the Creator hath shewed his Skill, in not over-doing the Matter; in not providing Man with an unnecessary Apparatus, to effect over and over again what is feasible, by the Reach of his Understanding, and the Power of his Authority.

But for the inferior Creatures, who want Reason, the Power of that natural Instinct, that Sagacity[eee] which the Creator hath imprinted upon them, do amply compensate that Defect. And here we shall find a glorious Scene of the divine Wisdom, Power, Providence and Care, if we view the various Instincts of Beasts, great and small, or Birds, Insects and Reptiles[fff]. For among every Species of them, we may find notable Acts of Sagacity, or Instinct, proportional to their Occasions for Food. Even among those whose Food is near at Hand, and easily come at; as Grass and Herbs; and consequently have no great need of Art to discover it; yet, that Faculty of their accurate Smell and Taste, so ready at every turn, to distinguish between what is salutary, and what pernicious[ggg], doth justly deserve Praise. But for such Animals, whose Food is not so easily come at, a Variety of wonderful Instinct may be met with, sufficient to entertain the most curious Observer. With what entertaining Power, and Artifice do some Creatures hunt[hhh], and pursue their Game and Prey! And others watch and way-lay theirs[iii]! With what prodigious Sagacity do others grope for it under Ground, out of Sight, in moorish Places, in Mud and Dirt[kkk]; and others dig and delve for it, both above[lll], and under the Surface of the drier Lands[mmm]! And how curious and well designed a Provision is it of particular large Nerves in such Creatures, adapted to that especial Service!

What an admirable Faculty is that of many Animals, to discover their Prey at vast Distances; some by their Smell some Miles off[nnn]; and some by their sharp and piercing Sight, aloft in the Air, or at other great Distances[ooo]! An Instance of the latter of which GOD himself giveth, (_Job_ xxxix. 27, 28, 29.) in the Instinct of the _Eagle_: _Doth the Eagle mount up at thy Command, and make her Nest on high? She dwelleth and abideth on the Rock, upon the Crag of the Rock, and the strong Place[ppp]. From thence she seeketh her Prey, and her Eyes behold afar off._ What a commodious Provision hath the Contriver of Nature made for Animals, that are necessitated to climb for their Food; not only in the Structure of their Legs and Feet, and in the Strength of their Tendons and Muscles, acting in that particular Office[qqq]; but also in the peculiar Structure of the principal Parts, acting in the Acquest of their Food[rrr]! What a Provision also is that in nocturnal Birds and Beasts, in the peculiar Structure of their Eye[sss], (and we may perhaps add the Accuracy of their Smell too) whereby they are enabled to discover their Food in the Dark? But among all the Instances we have of natural Instinct, those Instincts, and especial Provisions made to supply the Necessities of Helpless Animals, do in a particular Manner demonstrate the great Creator’s Care. Of which I shall give two Instances.

1. The Provision made for young Creatures. That Στοργὴ, that natural Affection, so connatural to all, or most Creatures towards their Young[ttt], what an admirable noble Principle is it, implanted in them by the wise Creator? By Means of which, with what Alacrity do they transact their parental Ministry? With what Care do they nurse up their Young; think no Pains too great to be taken for them, no Dangers[uuu] too great to be ventured upon for their Guard and Security? How carefully will they lead them about in Places of Safety, carry them into Places of Retreat and Security; yea, some of them admit them into their own Bowels[www]? How will they caress them with their affectionate Notes, lull and quiet them with their tender parental Voice, put Food into their Mouths, suckle them, cherish and keep them warm, teach them to pick, and eat, and gather Food for themselves; and, in a word, perform the whole Part of so many Nurses, deputed by the Sovereign Lord and Preserver of the World, to help such young and shiftless Creatures, till they are come to that Maturity, as to be able to shift for themselves?

And as for other Animals (particularly Insects, whose Sire is partly the Sun, and whose numerous Off-spring would be too great for their Parent-Animal’s Care and Provision) these are so generated, as to need none of their Care, by Reason they arrive immediately to their Ἡλικία, their perfect, adult State, and are able to shift for themselves. But yet, thus far their parental Instinct (equivalent to the most rational Care and Fore-sight) doth extend, that the old ones do not wildly drop their Eggs and Sperm any where, at all Adventures, but so cautiously reposit it in such commodious Places (some in the Waters, some on Flesh, some on Plants proper and agreeable to their Species[xxx]; and some shut up agreeable Food in their Nests, partly for Incubation, partly for Food[yyy],) that their young in their _Aurelia_, or _Nympha_ State, may find sufficient and agreeable Food to bring them up, till they arrive to their Maturity.

Thus far the Parental Instinct and Care.

Next we may observe no less in the young themselves, especially in those of the irrational Animals. Forasmuch as the Parent-Animal is not able to bear them about, to cloath them, and to dandle them, as Man doth; how admirably hath the Creator contrived their State, that those poor young Creatures can soon walk about, and with the little Helps of their Dam, shift for, and help themselves? How naturally do they hunt for their Teat, suck, pick[zzz], and take in their proper Food?

But for the young of Man, their Parents Reason, joined with natural Affection, being sufficient to help, to nurse, to feed, and to cloath them; therefore they are born helpless, and are more absolutely than other Creatures, cast upon their Parents Care[aaaa]. A manifest Act and Designation of the Divine Providence.

2. The other Instance I promised, is the Provision made for the Preservation of such Animals as are sometimes destitute of Food, or in Danger of being so. The Winter is a very inconvenient, improper Season, to afford either Food or Exercise to Insects, and many other Animals. When the flowry Fields are divested of their Gaiety; when the fertile Trees and Plants are stripp’d of their Fruits, and the Air, instead of being warmed with the cherishing Beams of the Sun, is chilled with rigid Frost; what would become of such Animals as are impatient of Cold? What Food could be found by such as are subsisted by the Summer-Fruits? But to obviate all this Evil, to stave off the Destruction and Extirpation of divers Species of Animals, the infinitely wise Preserver of the World hath as wisely ordered the matter; that, in the first Place, such as are impatient of Cold, should have such a special Structure of their Body, particularly of their Hearts, and Circulation of their Blood[bbbb], as during that Season, not to suffer any waste of their Body, and consequently not to need any Recruits; but that they should be able to live in a kind of sleepy, middle State, in their Places of safe Retreat, until the warm Sun revives both them and their Food together.

The next Provision is for such as can bear the Cold, but would want Food then; and that is in some by a long Patience of Hunger[cccc], in others by their notable Instinct in laying up Food beforehand against the approaching Winter[dddd]. Of this many entertaining Examples may be given; particularly we may, at the proper Season, observe not only the little Treasures and Holes well-stocked with timely Provisions, but large Fields[eeee] here and there throughout bespread with considerable Numbers of the Fruits of the neighbouring Trees, laid carefully up in the Earth, and covered safe, by the provident little Animals inhabiting thereabouts. And not without Pleasure have I seen and admired the Sagacity of other Animals, hunting out those subterraneous Fruits, and pillaging the Treasures of those little provident Creatures.

And now from this bare transient View of this Branch of the Great Creator’s Providence and Government, relating to the _Food_ of his Creatures, we can conclude no less, than that since this grand Affair hath such manifest Strokes of admirable and wise Management, that since this is demonstrated throughout all Ages and Places, that therefore it is God’s Handy-Work. For how is it possible that so vast a World of Animals should be supported, such a great Variety equally and well supplied with proper Food, in every Place fit for Habitation, without an especial Superintendency and Management, equal to, at least, that of the most prudent Steward and Housholder? How should the Creatures be able to find out their Food when laid up in secret Places? And how should they be able to gather even a great deal of the common Food, and at last to macerate and digest it, without peculiar Organs adapted to the Service? And what less than an infinitely Wise God could form such a Set of curious Organs, as we find every Species endowed with, for this very Life? Organs so artificially made, so exquisitely fitted up, that the more strictly we survey them, the more accurately we view them (even the meanest of them with our blest Glasses) the less Fault we find in them, and the more we admire them: Whereas the best polished, and most exquisite Works, made by human Art, appear through our Glasses, as rude and bungling, deformed and monstrous; and yet we admire them, and call them Works of Art and Reason. And lastly, What less than Rational and Wise could endow irrational Animals with various Instincts, equivalent, in their special Way, to Reason it self? Insomuch that some from thence have absolutely concluded, that those Creatures had some Glimmerings of Reason. But it is manifestly Instinct, not Reason they act by, because we find no varying, but that every Species doth naturally pursue at all Times the same Methods and Way, without any Tutorage or Learning: Whereas _Reason_, without Instruction, would often vary, and do that by many Methods, which _Instinct_ doth by one alone. But of this more hereafter.

FOOTNOTES:

[a] _Pastum animantibus largè & copiosè natura eum, qui cuique aptus erat, comparavit._ Cic. de Nat. Deor. l. 2. c. 47.

_Ille Deus est,——qui per totum orbem armenta dimisit, qui gregibus ubique passim vagantibus pabulum præstat._ Senec. de Benef. l. 4. c. 6.

[b] _Tritico nihil est fertilius: hoc ei natura tribuit, quoniam eo maximè alat hominem; utpote cùm è modio, si sit aptum solum——150 modii reddantur. Misit D. Augusto procurator—ex uno grano (vix credibile dictu) 400 paucis minùs germina. Misit & Neroni similiter 340 stipulas ex uno grano._ Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 18. c. 10.

[c] _Sed illa quanta benignitas Natura, quòd tam multa ad vescendum, tam varia, tam jucunda gignit: neque ea uno tempore anni, ut semper & novitate delectemur & copiâ._ Cic. de Nat. Deor. l. 2. c. 53.

[d] _Swammerdam_ observes of the _Ephemeron Worms_, that their Food is Clay, and that they make their Cells of the same. Upon which occasion he saith of _Moths_, that eat Wool and Fur, _There are two Things very considerable, 1. That the Cells they make to themselves, wherein they live, and with which (as their House, Tortoise-like) they move from Place to Place, they make of the Matter next at hand. 2. That they feed also on the same, therefore when you find their Cells, or rather Coats or Cases to be made of yellow, green, blue or black Cloth, you will also find their Dung of the same Colour._ Swammerd. Ephem. vita. Published by Dr. _Tyson_, _Chap. 3._

[e] _Job_ xxxviii. 41. _Psal._ cxlvii. 9.

[f] _Aristot. l. 9. c. 31. Hist. Animal._

[g] _Pliny_ affirms this of the _Crow_ as well as _Raven_: _Cæteræ omnes ~[i.e. Cornices]~ ex eodem genere pellunt nidis pullos, ac volare cogunt, sicut & Corvi, qui——robustos suos fœtus fugant longiùs._ Nat. Hist. l. 10. c. 12.

[h] _Var. Hist._

[i] _Chap. 9._

[k] _Admiranda Naturæ dispensatio est, ut aliter, alioque modo, tempore, & industriâ colatur terra septentrionalis, aliter Æthiopia, ~&c.~ Quoad Aquilonares, hoc certum est, in plerisque agris Vestrogothorum, parte objectâ Meridionali plagæ, Hordeum spatio 36 Dierum à femine projecto maturum colligi, hoc est à fine Junii usque medium Augusti, aliquando celerius. Ea namque maturitas ex soli naturâ, aërisque clementiâ, ac humore lapillorum fovente radices, Soleque torrente, necessariò provenit, ut ita nascatur, ac maturetur, talesque spicæ sex ordines in numero aristæ habent._ Ol. Mag. Hist. l. 15. c. 8. _Prata & pascua tantâ luxuriant graminum ubertate ac diversitate, ut necessum sit inde arcere jumenta, nè nimio herbarum esu crepent, ~&c.~_ Id. ib. l. 19. c. 36.

[l] Among the many noble Contrivances for Food, I cannot but attribute that universal Aliment, _Bread_, to the Revelation, or at least the Inspiration of the Creator and Conservator of Mankind; not only because it is a Food used in all, or most Parts of the World; but especially because it is of incomparable Use in the great Work of Digestion, greatly assisting the Ferment, or whatever causes the Digestion of the Stomach. Of which take this Example from the noble Mr. _Boyle_. “He extracted a _Menstruum_ from Bread alone, that would work on Bodies more Compact than many hard Minerals, nay even on Glass it self, and do many Things that _Aqua-fortis_ could not do——Yet by no means was this so corrosive a Liquor as _Aq. fort._ or as the other _acid Menstruum_”. _Vid._ the ingenious and learned Dr. _Harris_’s _Lex. Tech. verbo Menstruum_, where the way of preparing it may be met with.

[m] _Psal._ civ. 26.

[n] The Insects that for the most part discolour the Waters, are the small Insects of the _Shrimp-kind_, called by _Swammerdam_, _Pulex aquaticus arborescens_. These I have often seen so numerous in stagnating Waters in the Summer-Months, that they have changed the Colour of the Waters to a pale or deep Red, sometimes a Yellow, according to the Colour they were of. Of this _Swammerdam_ hath a pretty Story told him by Dr. _Florence Schuyl_, viz. _Se aliquando Studiis intentum, magno quodam & horrifico rumore fuisse turbatum, & simul ad causam ejus inquirendam excitatum; verùm se vix eum in finem surrexisse, cùm Ancilla ejus pœne exanimis adcurreret, & multo cum singultu referret, omnem Lugduni ~[Batavorum]~ aquam esse mutatam in sanguinem_. The Cause of which, upon Examination he found to be only from the numerous Swarms of those _Pulices_. V. Swamm. Hist. Insect. p. 70.

The Cause of this great Concourse, and Appearance of those little Insects, I have frequently observed to be to perform their Coït; which is commonly about the latter end of _May_, and in _June_. At that Time they are very venereous, frisking and catching at one another; and many of them conjoined Tail to Tail, with their Bellies inclined one towards another.

At this Time also they change their Skin or _Slough_; which I conceive their rubbing against one another mightily promoteth. And what if at this Time they change their Quarters? _Vid._ _Book VIII. Chap. 4. Note (f)._

These small Insects, as they are very numerous, so are Food to many Water-Animals. I have seen not only _Ducks_ shovel them up as they swim along the Waters, but divers Insects also devour them, particularly some of the middle-sized _Squillæ aquaticæ_, which are very voracious Insects.

[o] Besides the _Pulices_ last mentioned, there are in the Waters other Animalcules very numerous, which are scarce visible without a Microscope. In _May_, and the Summer Months, the green Scum on the top of stagnating Waters, is nothing else but prodigious Numbers of these Animalcules: So is likewise the green Colour in them, when all the Water seems green. Which Animalcules, in all Probability, serve for Food to the _Pulices Aquatici_, and other the minuter Animals of the Waters. Of which I gave a pregnant Instance in one of the _Nymphæ_ of _Gnats_, to my Friend the late admirable Mr. _Ray_, which he was pleased to publish in the last Edition of his _Wisdom of God in the Creation_, p. 430.

[p]

_Nil adeò quoniam natum’st in Corpore, ut uti_ _Possemus, sed quod natum’st, id procreat usum._

And afterwards,

_Propterea capitur Cibus, ut suffulciat artus,_ _Et recreet vireis interdatus, atque patentem_ _Per membra ac venas ut amorem obturet edendi._

And after the same manner he discourseth of Thirst, and divers other Things. _Vid._ _Lucret. l. 4. v. 831, &c._

Against this Opinion of the _Epicureans_, _Galen_ ingeniously argues in his Discourse about the Hand. _Non enim Manus ipsæ_ (saith he) _hominem artes docuerunt, sed Ratio. Manus autem ipsæ sunt artium organa; sicut Lyra musici——Lyra musicam non docuit, sed est ipsius artifex per eam, quâ præditus est, Rationem: agere autem non potest ex arte absque organis, ita & una quælibet anima facultates quasdam à suâ ipsius substantiâ obtinet,——Quòd autem corporis particulæ animam non impellunt,——manifeste videre licet, si animalia recèns nata confideres, quæ quidem priùs agere conantur, quàm perfectas habeant particulas. Ego namque Bovis vitulum cornibus petere conantem sæpenumero vidi, antequam ei nata essent cornua; Et pullum Equi calcitrantem, ~&c.~ Omne enim animal suæ ipsius Animæ facultates, ac in quos usus partes suæ polleant maximè, nullo doctore, præsentit.——Quâ igitur ratione dici potest, animalia partium usus à partibus doceri, cùm & antequam illas habeant, hoc cognoscere videantur? Si igitur Ova tria acceperis, unum Aquilæ, alterum Anatis, reliquum Serpentis, & calore modico foveris, animaliaque excluseris; illa quidem alis volare conantia, antequàm volare possint; hoc autem revolvi videbis, & serpere affectans, quamvis molle adhuc & invalidam fuerit. Et si, dum perfecta erunt, in unâ eâdemque domo nutriveris, deinde ad locum subdialem ducta emiseris, Aquila quidem ad sublime; Anas autem in paludem;——Serpens verò sub terrâ irrepet——Animalia quidem mihi videntur Naturâ magis quàm Ratione artem aliquam ~[τεχνικὰ artificiosa]~ exercere: Apes fingere alveolos, ~&c.~_ Galen de usu. Part I. c. 3.

[q] _Alia dentibus prædantur, alia unguibus, alia rostri aduncitate carpunt, alia latitudine ~[ejusdem]~ ruunt, alia acumine excavant, alia sugunt, alia lambunt, sorbent, mandunt, vorant. Nec minor varietas in Pedum ministerio, ut rapiant, distrahant, teneant, premant, pendeant, tellurem scabere non cessent._ Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 10. c. 71.

[r] Because it would be tedious to reckon up the Bones, Glands, Muscles, and other Parts belonging to the Mouth, it shall suffice to observe, that, for the various Services of Man’s Mouth, besides the Muscles in common with other Parts, there are five Pair, and one single one proper to the Lips only, as Dr. _Gibson_ reckons them: But my most diligent and curious Friend the late Mr. _Cowper_, discovered a sixth Pair. And accordingly Dr. _Drake_ reckons six Pair, and one single one proper to the Lips, _l. 3._ c. 13.

[s] _Galen_ deserves to be here consulted, who excellently argues against the casual Concourse of the Atoms of _Epicurus_ and _Asclepiades_, from the provident and wise Formation of the Mouths of Animals, and their Teeth answerable thereto. In Man, his Mouth without a deep Incisure, with only one canine Tooth on a side, and flat Nails, because, saith he, _Hic Natura certò sciebat, se animal mansuetum ac civile effingere, cui robur & vires essent ex sapientiâ, non ex corporis fortitudine_. But for _Lions_, _Wolfs_ and _Dogs_, and all such as are called Καρχαρόδοντες, (or having sharp, serrated Teeth) their Mouths are large, and deep cut; Teeth strong and sharp, and their Nails sharp, large, strong and round, accommodated to holding and tearing. _Vid._ _Galen. de Us. Part. l. 11. c. 9._

[t] Among Insects the _Squillæ aquaticæ_, as they are very rapacious, so are accordingly provided for it: Particularly the _Squilla aquatica maxima recurva_ (as I call it) who hath somewhat terrible in its very Aspect, and in its Posture in the Water, especially its Mouth, which is armed with long, sharp Hooks, with which it boldly, and greedily catcheth any thing in the Waters, even one’s Fingers. When they have seized their Prey, they will so tenaciously hold it with their forcipated Mouth, that they will not part therewith, even when they are taken out of the Waters, and jumbled about in one’s Hand. I have admired at their peculiar way of taking in their Food; which is done by piercing their Prey with their _Forcipes_ (which are hollow) and sucking the Juice thereof through them.

The _Squilla_ here mentioned, is the first and second in _Mouffet_’s _Theat. Insect. l. 2. c. 37._

[u] For an Instance of Insects endued with a Spear, I shall, for its Peculiarity, pitch upon one of the smallest, if not the very smallest of all the _Gnat_-kind, which I call, _Culex minimus nigricans maculatus sanguisuga_. Among us in _Essex_, they are called _Nidiots_, by _Mouffet Midges_. It is about ⅒ of an Inch, or somewhat more long, with short _Antennæ_, plain in the Female, in the Male feather’d, somewhat like a Bottle-Brush. It is spotted with blackish Spots, especially on the Wings, which extend a little beyond the Body. It comes from a little slender Eel-like Worm, of a dirty white Colour, swimming in stagnating Waters by a wrigling Motion; as in _Fig. 5._

Its _Aurelia_ is small, with a black Head, little short Horns, a spotted, slender, rough Belly, _Vid._ _Fig. 6._ It lies quietly on the top of the Water, now and then gently wagging it self this way and that.

These _Gnats_ are greedy Blood-Suckers, and very troublesome, where numerous, as they are in some Places near the _Thames_, particularly in the Breach-Waters that have lately befallen near us, in the Parish of _Dagenham_; where I found them so vexatious, that I was glad to get out of those Marshes. Yea, I have seen Horses so stung with them, that they have had Drops of Blood all over their Bodies, where they were wounded by them.

I have given a Figure (in _Fig. 7._) and more particular Description of the _Gnats_, because, although it be common, it is no where taken notice of by any Author I know, except _Mouffet_, who, I suppose, means these _Gnats_, which he calls _Midges_, _c. 13. p. 82._

[w] _Hornets_ and _Wasps_ have strong Jaws, toothed, wherewith they can dig into Fruits, for their Food; as also gnaw and scrape Wood, whole Mouthfuls of which they carry away to make their Combs. _Vid._ _infr._ _Chap. 13. Note (c)._

[x] _Monsieur de la Voye_ tells of an ancient Wall of Free-Stone in the _Benedictines-Abby_ at _Caen_ in _Normandy_, so eaten with Worms, that one may run ones Hand into most of the Cavities: That these Worms are small and black, lodging in a greyish Shell, that they have large flattish Heads, a large Mouth, with four black Jaws, _&c._ _Phil. Trans._ Nᵒ. 18.

[y] _Pro iis ~[Labris]~ cornea & acuta Volucribus Rostra. Eadem rapto viventibus adunca: collecto, recta: herbas ruentibus limumque lata, ut Suum generi. Jumentis vice manûs ad colligenda pabula: ora apertiora laniatu viventibus._ Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 11. c. 37.

[z] _Parrots_ have their Bills nicely adapted to these Services, being hooked, for climbing and reaching what they have occasion for; and the lower Jaw being compleatly fitted to the Hooks of the upper, they can as minutely break their Food, as other Animals do with their Teeth.

[aa] Thus in _Woodcocks_, _Snipes_, _&c._ who hunt for Worms in moorish Ground, and, as Mr. _Willughby_ saith, live also on the fatty unctuous Humour they suck out of the Earth. So also the Bills of _Curlews_, and many other Sea-Fowl, are very long, to enable them to hunt for the Worms, _&c._ in the Sands on the Sea-shore, which they frequent.

[bb] _Ducks_, _Geese_, and divers others, have such long broad Bills, to quaffer and hunt in Water and Mud; to which we may reckon the uncouth Bill of the _Spoon-Bill_: but that which deserves particular Observation in the Birds named in these two last Notes is, the Nerves going to the end of their Bills, enabling them to discover their Food out of Sight; of which see _Book VII. Chap. 2. Note (e)._

[cc] The _Picus viridis_, or _Green-Woodspite_, and all the _Wood-Peckers_ have Bills, curiously made for digging Wood, strong, hard, and sharp. A neat Ridge runs along the top of the green _Wood-Pecker_’s Bill, as if an Artist had designed it for Strength and Neatness.

[dd] The _Loxia_, or _Cross-Bill_, whose Bill is thick and strong, with the Tips crossing one another; with great Readiness breaks open Fir-cones, Apples, and other Fruit, to come at their Kernels, which are its Food, as if the crossing of the Bill was designed for this Service.

[ee] The _Sea-Pie_ hath a long, sharp, narrow Bill, compressed side-ways, and every way so well adapted to the raising _Limpets_ from the Rocks (which are its chief, if not only Food) that Nature (or rather the Author of Nature) seems to have framed it purely for that Use.

[ff] _Those animals which have Teeth on both Jaws, have but one Stomach; but most of those which have no upper Teeth, or none at all, have three Stomachs; as in Beasts, the Paunch, the Read, and the Feck; and in all granivorous Birds, the Crop, the Echinus and the Gizard. For as chewing is to an easie Digestion, so is swallowing whole to that which is more laborious._ Dr. _Grew_’s Cosmol. Sacr. c. 5. §. 24.

[gg] _J. Peyer_ saith, the Teeth are made of convolved Skins hardened; and if we view the Grinders of _Deer_, _Horses_, _Sheep_, _&c._ we shall find great Reason to be of his Mind. His Observations are, _Mirum autem eos ~(_i.e._ Dentes)~ cùm primùm è pelliculis imbricatim convolutis & muco viscido constarent, in tantam dirigescere soliditatem, quæ ossa cuncta superet. Idem fit etiam in Ossiculis Ceraforum, ~&c.~——Separatione factâ, per membranas conditur Magma locellis, quos formant laminæ tenues, ac duriusculæ ad Dentis figuram anteà divinitùs compositæ._ J. Peyer Merycol. l. 2. c. 8.

[hh] _Qui autem ~(_i.e._ Dentes)~ renascuntur, minimè credendi sunt à facultate aliquâ plasticâ Brutorum denuò formari, sed latentes tantummodo in conspectum producuntur augmento molis ex effluente succo._ Id. ibid.

[ii] From these, and other like Considerations of the Teeth, _Galen_ infers, that they must needs be the Work of some wise, provident _Being_; not _Chance_, nor a fortuitous Concourse of _Atoms_. For the Confirmation of which he puts the Case, That suppose the order of the Teeth should have been inverted, the _Grinders_ set in the room of the _Incisors_, _&c._ (which might as well have been, had not the Teeth been placed by a wise Agent) in this case, what Use would the Teeth have been of? What Confusion by such a slight Error in their Disposal only? Upon which he argues, _At siquis choream hominum 32_ (the Number of the Teeth) _ordine disposuit, eum ut hominem industrium laudaremus; cùm verò Dentium choream Natura tam bellè exornârit, nonne ipsam quoque laudabimus?_ And then he goes on with the Argument, from the Sockets of the Teeth, and their nice fitting in them, which being no less accurately done, than what is done by a Carpenter, or Stone-Cutter, in fitting a Tenon into a Mortice, doth as well infer the Art and Act of the wise _Maker_ of Animal Bodies, as the other doth the Act and Art of Man. And so he goes on with other Arguments to the same Effect. _Galen. de Us. Part. l. 11. c. 8._

[kk] A curious Account of this may be found in an _Extract of a Letter concerning the Teeth of divers Animals_. Printed at _Paris_, in _M. Vaugnion_’s Compleat Body of Chirurg. Oper. Chap. 53.

[ll] As it hath been taken notice of, that various Animals delight in various Food; so it constantly falls out, that their Teeth are accordingly fitted to their Food; the rapacious to catching, holding and tearing their Prey; the herbaceous to Gathering and Comminution of Vegetables: And such as have no Teeth, as Birds, their Bill, Craw and Gizard, are assisted with Stones, to supply the defect of Teeth. But the most considerable Example of this Kind is in some Families of the Insect-Tribes, as the _Papilio-Kind_, _&c._ who have Teeth, and are voracious, and live on tender Vegetables in their _Nympha_, or _Caterpillar-State_, when they can only creep; but in their mature _Papilio-State_, they have no Teeth, but a _Proboscis_, or _Trunk_ to suck up Honey, _&c._ their Parts for gathering Food, as well as their Food being changed, as soon as they have Wings to enable them to fly to it.

[mm] It is remarkable in the Teeth of Fishes, that in some they are sharp, as also jointed, so as to fall back, the better to catch and hold their Prey, and to facilitate its Passage into the Stomach: So in others they are broad and flat, made to break the Shells of Snails and Shell-Fish devoured by them. These _Teeth_, or _Breakers_, are placed, in some, in the Mouth; in some, in the Throat; and in _Lobsters_, _&c._ in the Stomach it self; in the bottom of whose Stomachs are three of those _Grinders_, with peculiar Muscles to move them.

[nn] What is there in the World can be called an Act of Providence and Design, if this temporary Defect of Teeth be not such; that Children, for Instance, should have none whilst they are not able to use them, but to hurt themselves; or the Mother; and that at the very Age when they can take in more substantial Food, and live without the Breast, and begin to need Teeth, for the sake of Speech; that then, I say, their Teeth should begin to appear, and gradually grow, as they more and more stand in need of ’em.

[oo] It would be endless to particularize here, and therefore I shall refer to the Anatomists; among the rest, particularly to _Galen_, for the sake of his Descant upon this Subject. For having described the great Accuracy of the Contrivance and Make of these Parts, he saith, _Haud scio an hominum sit sobriorum ad Fortunam opificem id revocare: alioqui quid tandem erit, quod cum Providentiâ atque Arte efficitur? Omnino enim hoc ei contrariaum esse debet, quod casu ac fortuitè fit._ Galen. de Us. Part. l. 11. c. 7. _ubi plura._

[pp] _The Bore of the Gullet is not in all Creatures alike answerable to the Body or Stomach. As in the ~Fox~, which both feeds on Bones, and swallows whole, or with little chewing; add next in a ~Dog~, and other ossivorous Quadrupeds, ’tis very large, ~viz.~ to prevent a Contusion therein. Next in a ~Horse~, which though he feeds on Grass, yet swallows much at once, and so requires a more open Passage. But in a ~Sheep~, ~Rabbit~, or ~Ox~, which bite short, and swallow less at once, ’tis smaller. But in a ~Squirrel~, still lesser, both because he eats fine, and to keep him from disgorging his Meat upon his descending Leaps. And so in ~Rats~ and ~Mice~, which often run along Walls with their Heads downwards._ Dr. _Grew_’s Comp. Anat. of Stom. and Guts. _Chap. 5._

[qq] Of this see Dr. _Willis_’s _Pharm. Rat._ Part 1. Sect. 1. c. 2. _Steno_ also, and _Peyer Mery_, l. 2.

The Description these give of the muscular Part of the Gullet, the late ingenious and learned Dr. _Drake_ saith is very exact in Ruminants, but not in Men. _In Men, this Coat ~(the second of the Gullet)~ consists of two fleshy ~Lamellæ~, like two distinct Muscles. The outward being compared of strait longitudinal Fibres.——The inner Order of Fibres is annular, without any observable Angles.——The Use of this Coat, and these Orders of Fibres is to promote Deglutition; of which the Longitudinal,——shorten the ~Oesophagus~, and so make its Capacity larger, to admit of the Matter to be swallowed. The Annular, on the contrary, contract the Capacity, and closing behind the descending Aliment, press it downwards._ Drake’s Anat. vol. 1. l. 1. c. 9.

[rr] See _Willis_, ibid. _Cowper_’s _Anat. Tab. 35._ and many other Authors.

[ss] _Promptuarium autem hoc, alimentum universum excipiens, ceu Divinum, non Humanum sit opificium._ Galen. de Us. Part. l. 4. c. 1.

[tt] _How great a Comprehension of the Nature of Things, did it require, to make a ~Menstruum~, that should corrode all sorts of Flesh coming into the Stomach, and yet not the Stomach it self, which is also Flesh?_ Dr. _Grew_’s Cosmol. Sacr. c. 4.

[uu] The Food of the _Castor_ being oftentimes, if not always, dry Things, and hard of Digestion, such as the Roots and Bark of Trees, ’tis a wonderful Provision made in that Creature’s Stomach, by the digestive Juice lodged in the curious little Cells there. A Description of whose admirable Structure and Order may be found in _Blasius_ from _Wepser_; concerning which he saith, _In quibus Mucus reconditus, non secus ac Mel in Favis.——Nimiram quia Castoris alimentum exsuccum, & coctu difficillimum est, sapientissimus & summè admirandus in suis operibus rerum Conditor, D. O. M. ipsi pulcherrimâ istâ & affabrè factâ structurâ benignissimè prospexit, ut nunquam deesset Fermentum, quod ad solvendum, & comminuendum alimentum durum & asperum par foret._ Vid. Blas. Anat. Animal. c. 10. _Confer etiam Act. Erud. Lips._ Ann. 1684. p. 360.

Most of our modern Anatomists and Physicians attribute Digestion to a dissolving _Menstruum_; but Dr. _Drake_ takes it to be rather from fermentative, dissolving Principles in the Aliment it self, with the Concurrence of the Air and Heat of the Body; as in Dr. _Papin_’s _Digester_. _Vid._ _Dr. Anat. vol. 1. c. 14._

[ww] _All carnivorous Quadrupeds have the smallest Ventricles, Flesh going farthest. Those that feed on Fruits, and Roots, have them of a middle Size. Yet the ~Mole~, because it feeds unclean, hath a very great one. ~Sheep~ and ~Oxen~, which feed on Grass, have the greatest. Yet the ~Horse~ (and for the same Reason the ~Coney~ and ~Hare~) though Graminivorous, yet comparatively have but little ones. For that a ~Horse~ is made for Labour, and both this, and the ~Hare~, for quick and continued Motion; for which, the most easie Respiration, and so the freest Motion of the Diaphragme is very requisite; which yet could not be, should the Stomach lie big and cumbersome upon it, as in ~Sheep~ and ~Oxen~ it doth_, Grew, ib. Chap. 6.

[xx] The _Dromedary_ hath four Stomachs, one whereof is peculiarly endowed with about twenty Cavities, like Sacks, in all Probability for the holding of Water. Concerning which, see _Book VI. Chap. 4. Note (a)._

[yy] To assist in which Office, they swallow small angular Stones, which are to be met with in the Gizards of all granivorous Birds; but in the Gizard of the _Iynx_, or _Wryneck_, which was full only of _Ants_, I found not one Stone. So in that of the _Green Wood-Pecker_ (full of _Ants_ and _Tree-maggots_) there were but few Stones.

[zz] _In most carnivorous Birds, the third Ventricle is Membranous; where the Meat is concocted, as in a Man: Or somewhat Tendinous, as in an ~Owl~; as if it were made indifferently for Flesh, or other Meat, as he could meet with either. Or most thick and tendinous, called the Gizard; wherein the Meat, as in a Mill, is ground to Pieces._ Grew, _ubi supra_, Chap. 9.

[aaa] It would be much too long a Task to insist upon it here as it deserves, and therefore concerning the whole Business of Rumination, I shall refer to _J. Conr. Peyeri Merycolog. seu de Ruminantibus & Ruminatione Commentar._ where he largely treateth of the several Ruminating Animals, of the Parts ministring to this Act, and the great Use and Benefit thereof unto them.

[bbb] There are too many Particulars to be insisted on, observable in the Passages of the _Chyle_, from the Guts to the _Left Subclavian Vein_, where it enters into the Blood; and therefore I shall only, for a Sample of this admirable Oeconomy, take notice of some of the main and more general Matters. And,

1. After the Food is become Chyle, and gotten into the Guts, it is an excellent Provision made, not only for its Passage through the Guts, but also for its Protrusion into the _Lacteals_, by the _Peristaltick_ Motion and _Valvulæ conniventes_ of the Guts. 2. It is an admirable Provision, that the Mouths of the _Lacteals_, and indeed the _Lacteals primi generis_ themselves are small and fine, not wider than the _Capillary Arteries_ are, lest by admitting Particles of the Nourishment grosser than the _Capillaries_, dangerous Obstructions might be thereby produced. 3. After the Reception of the Aliment into the _Lacteals primi generis_, it is a noble Provision for the Advancement of its Motion, that in the _Mesenterick Glands_, it meets with some of the _Lymphæ-Ducts_, and receives the Impregnations of the _Lympha_. And passing on from thence, it is no less Advantage. 4. That the _Lacteals_, and _Lymphæ-Ducts_ meet in the _Receptaculum Chyli_, where the Aliment meeting with more of the _Lympha_, is made of a due Consistence, and Temperament, for its farther Advancement through the _Thoracick Duct_, and so into the _Left Subclavian Vein_ and Blood. Lastly, This _Thoracick Duct_ it self is a Part of great Consideration. For (as Mr. _Cowper_ saith) _If we consider in this Duct its several Divisions and Inosculations, its numerous Valves looking from below upwards, its advantagious Situation between the great Artery and ~Vertebræ~ of the Back, together with the Ducts discharging their refluent ~Lympha~ from the Lungs, and other neighbouring Parts, we shall find all conduce to demonstrate the utmost Art of Nature used in furthering the steep and perpendicular Ascent of the Chyle._ Anat. Introduct.

[ccc] These, although noble Contrivances and Works of God, are too many to be insisted on, and therefore I shall refer to the Anatomists, particularly Dr. _Willis_ _Pharmaceut._ Dr. _Cole_, in _Phil. Trans._ Nᵒ. 125. and Mr. _Cowper_’s elegant Cuts in _Anat. Tab._ 34, 35. and _Append. Fig._ 39, 40.

[ddd] In the _Thornback_, and some other Fishes, it is a very curious Provision that is made to supply the Paucity and Brevity of the Guts; by the Perforation of their single Gut, going not strait along, but round like a Pair of Winding Stairs; so that their Gut, which seems to be but a few Inches long, hath really a Bore of many Inches. But of these, and many other noble Curiosities and Discoveries in Anatomy, the Reader will, I hope, have a better and larger Account from the curious and ingenious Dr. _Dowglas_, who is labouring in those Matters.

[eee] _Quibus bestiis erat is cibus, ut alius generis bestiis vescerentur, aut vires natura dedit, aut celeritatem: data est quibusdam etiam machinatio quædam, atque solertia, &c._ Cic. de Nat. Deor. l. 2. c. 48.

[fff] Among Reptiles that have a strange Faculty to shift for Food, _&c._ may be reckoned _Eels_, which, although belonging to the Waters, can creep on the Land from Pond to Pond, _&c._ Mr. _Mosely_ of _Mosely_, saw them creep over the Meadows, like so many Snakes from Ditch to Ditch; which he thought, was not only for bettering their Habitation, but also to catch Snails in the Grass. _Plot_’s _Hist. of Staffordshire_, c. 7. §. 32.

And as early as the Year 1125, the Frost was so very intense, that the _Eels_ were forced to leave the Waters, and were frozen to Death in the Meadows. _Vid._ _Hakewill_’s _Apol_. _l. 2. Chap. 7. S. 2._

[ggg] _Enumerare possum, ad pastum capessendum conficiendúmque, quæ sit in figuris animantium & quam solers, subtilisque descriptio partium, quámque admirabilis fabrica membrorum. Omnia enim quæ intus inclusa sunt, ita nata, atque ita locata sunt, ut nihil eorum supervacaneum sit, nihil ad vitam retinendam non necessarium. Dedit autem eadem Natura belluis & sensum, & appetitum, ut altero conatum haberent ad naturales pastus capessendos; altero secernerent pestifera à salutaribus._ Cic. de Nat. Deor. l. 2. c. 37. See _Book IV. Chap. 4._

[hhh] It would be endless to give Instances of my own and others Observations of the prodigious Sagacity of divers Animals in Hunting, particularly Hounds, Setting-Dogs, _&c._ one therefore shall suffice of Mr. _Boyl_’s, viz. _A Person of Quality——to make a Trial, whether a young Blood-Hound was well instructed,——caused one of his Servants——to walk to a Town four Miles off, and then to a Market-Town three Miles from thence.——The Dog, without seeing the Man he was to pursue, followed him by the Scent to the abovementioned Places, notwithstanding the Multitude of Market-People that went along in the same Way, and of Travellers that had occasion to cross it. And when the Blood-Hound came to the chief Market-Town, he passed through the Streets, without taking notice of any of the People there, and left not till he had gone to the House, where the Man he sought rested himself, and found him in an upper Room, to the wonder of those that followed him._ Boyl. Determ. Nat. of Effluv. Chap. 4.

[iii] There are many Stories told of the Craft of the _Fox_, to compass his Prey; of which _Ol. Magnus_ hath many such, as, feigning the barking of a _Dog_, to catch Prey near Houses; feigning himself dead, to catch such Animals as come to feed upon him; laying his Tail on a Wasp-Nest, and then rubbing it hard against a Tree, and then eating the _Wasps_ so killed: Ridding himself of _Fleas_, by gradually going into Water, with a Lock of Wool in his Mouth, and so driving the _Fleas_ up into it, and then leaving it in the Water; By catching _Crab_-Fish with his Tail, which he saith he himself was an Eye-Witness of; _Vidi & ego in Scopulis Norvegia Vulpem, inter rupes immissâ caudâ in aquas, plures educere Cancros, ac demum devorare._ Ol. Mag. Hist. l. 18. c. 39, 40. But _Pliny_’s fabulous Story of the _Hyæna_ out-does these Relations of the _Fox_, _Sermonem humanum inter pastorum stabula assimulare, nomenque alicujus addiscere, quem evocatum foràs laceret. Item Vomitionem hominis imitari ad sollicitandos Canes quos invadat._ Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 30.

[kkk] This do _Ducks_, _Woodcocks_, and many other Fowls, which seek their Food in dirty, moorish Places. For which Service they have very remarkable Nerves reaching to the end of their Bills. Of which see _Book VII. Chap. 2. Note (e)._

[lll] _Swine_, and other Animals that dig, have their Noses made more tendinous, callous, and strong for this Service, than others that do not dig. They are also edged with a proper, tough Border, for penetrating and lifting up the Earth; and their Nostrils are placed well, and their Smell is very accurate, to discover whatsoever they pursue by digging.

[mmm] The _Mole_, as its Habitation is different from that of other Animals, so hath its Organs in every respect curiously adapted to that way of Life; particularly its Nose made sharp, and slender, but withal tendinous and strong, _&c._ But what is very remarkable, it hath such Nerves reaching to the end of its Nose and Lips, as _Ducks_, _&c_. have, mentioned above in _Note (kkk)._ Which Pair of Nerves I observed to be much larger in this Animal than any other Nerves proceeding out of its Brain.

[nnn] Predacious Creatures, as _Wolfs_, _Foxes_, _&c._ will discover Prey at great Distances; so will _Dogs_ and _Ravens_ discover Carrion a great way off by their Smell. And if (as the Superstitious imagine) the latter flying over and haunting Houses be a sign of Death, it is no doubt from some cadaverous Smell, those Ravens discover in the Air by their accurate Smell, which is emitted from those diseased Bodies, which have in them the Principles of a speedy Death.

[ooo] Thus _Hawks_ and _Kites_ on Land, and _Gulls_ and other Birds that prey upon the Waters, can at a great Height in the Air see _Mice_, little Birds and Insects on the Earth, and small Fishes, _Shrimps_, _&c._ in the Waters, which they will dart down upon, and take.

[ppp] Mr. Ray gives a good Account of the Nidification of the _Chrysaëtos caudâ annulo albo cinctâ. Hujus Nidus Ann. 1668. in sylvosis prope Derwentiam, ~&c.~ inventus est è bacillis seu virgis ligneis grandioribus compositus, quorum altera extremitas rupis cujusdam eminentiæ, altera duabus Betulis innitebatur,—Erat Nidus quadratus, duas ulnas latus.—In eo pullus unicus, adjacentibus cadaveribus unius agni, unius leporis, & trium Grygallorum pullorum._ Synops. Method. Avium, p. 6. And not only _Lambs_, _Hares_, and _Grygalli_, but Sir _Robert Sibbald_ tells us, they will seize _Kids_ and _Fawns_, yea, and Children too: Of which he hath this Story of an _Eagle_ in one of the _Orcades_ Islands, _Quæ Infantulum unius anni pannis involutum arripuit (quem Mater tessellas ustibiles pro igne allatura momento temporis deposuerat in loco ~Houton-Hed~ dicto) cumque deportâsse per 4 milliaria passuum ad ~Hoiam~; quâ re ex matris ejulatibus cognitâ, quatuor viri illuc in naviculâ profecti sunt, & scientes ubi Nidus esset, infantulum illæsum & intactum deprehenderunt._ Prod. Nat. Hist. Scot. l. 3. p. 2. p. 14.

[qqq] See in _Book VII. Chap. 1. Note (l)._ the Characteristicks of the _Wood-Pecker-kind_.

[rrr] _The Contrivance of the Legs, Feet and Nails [of the ~Opossum]~ seems very advantagious to this Animal in climbing Trees (which it doth very nimbly) for preying upon Birds._ But that which is most singular in this Animal, is the Structure of its Tail, to enable it to hang on Boughs. _The Spines, or Hooks——in the middle of the under side of the ~Vertebræ~ of the Tail; are a wonderful Piece of Nature’s Mechanism. The first three ~Vertebræ~ had none of these Spines, but in all the rest they were to be observed.——They were placed just at the Articulation of each Joynt, and in the middle from the Sides.——For the performing this Office ~[of hanging by the Tail]~ nothing, I think, could be more advantagiously contrived. For when the Tail is twirled or wound about a Stick, this Hook of the ~Spinæ~ easily sustains the Weight, and there is but little labour of the Muscles required, only enough for bowing or crooking the Tail._ This, and more to the same purpose, see in Dr. _Tyson_’s _Anat._ of the _Oposs._ in _Phil. Trans._ No. 239.

[sss] See before _Chap. 2. Note (z), (aa), (bb)._

[ttt] _Quid dicam quantus amor bestiarum sit in educandis custodiendisque iis, qua procreaverint, usque ad eum finem, dum possint seipsa defendere?_ And having instanced in some Animals, where this Care is not necessary, and accordingly is not employed, he goes on, _Jam Gallinæ, avesque reliquæ, & quietum requirunt ad pariendum locum, & cubilia sibi, nidosque construunt, eosque quàm possunt mollissimè substernunt, ut quàm facillime ova serventur. Ex quibus pullos cùm excluserint, ita tuentur, ut & pennis foveant, ne frigore lædantur, & si est calor, à sole se opponant._ Cic. de Nat. Deor. l. 2. c. 51, 52.

To this natural Care of Parent-Animals to their young, we may add the Returns made by the young of some towards the old ones. _Pliny_ saith of _Rats_, _Genitores suos fesses senectâ, alunt insigni pietate._ Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 57. So _Cranes_, he saith, _Genitricum senectam invicem educant._ L. 10. c. 23.

This St. _Ambrose_ takes Notice of in his _Hexameron_, and _Ol. Magnus_ after him, _Depositi patris artus, per longævum senectutis plumis nudatos circumstans soboles pennis propriis fovet,——collatitio cibo pascit, quando etiam ipsa naturæ reparat dispendia, ut hinc inde senem sublevantes, fulcro alarum suarum ad volandum exerceant, & in pristinos usus desueta membra reducant._ For which Reason this Bird is denominated _Pia. Vid. Ol. Mag. Hist. l. 19. c. 14._

Hereto may be added also the conjugal Στοργὴ of the little green _Æthiopian Parrot_, which Mr. _Ray_ describes from _Clusius_. _Fœmellea senescentes (quod valdè notabile) vix edere volebant, nisi cibum jam à mare carptum, & aliquandiu in prolobo retentum, & quasi coctum rostro suo exciperent, ut Columbarum pulli à matre ali solent._ Synops. Meth. Av. p. 32.

[uuu] The most timid Animals, that at other Times abscond, or hastily fly from the Face of Man, Dogs, _&c._ will, for the sake of their young, expose themselves. Thus among Fowls, _Hens_ will assault, instead of fly from such as meddle with their Brood. So _Partridges_, before their young can fly, will drop frequently down, first at lesser, and then at greater Distances, to dodge and draw off Dogs from pursuing their young.

[www] The _Opossum_ hath a curious Bag on purpose for the securing and carrying about her young. There are belonging to this Bag two Bones (not to be met with in any other Skeleton) and four Pair of Muscles; and some say Teats lie therein also. Dr. _Tyson_, _Anat._ of the _Oposs._ in _Phil. Trans._ Nᵒ. 239. where he also, from _Oppian_, mentions the _Dog-Fish_, that upon any Storm or Danger, receives the young Ones into her Belly, which come out again when the Fright is over. So also the _Squatina_ and _Glaucus_, the same Author saith, have the same Care for their young, but receive them into different Receptacles.

[xxx] See _Book VIII. Chap. 6._

[yyy] See _Chap. 13. Note (c)._

[zzz] There is manifestly a superintending Providence in this Case, that some Animals are able to suck as soon as ever they are born, and that they will naturally hunt for the Teat before they are quite gotten out of the Secundines, and parted from the Navel-String, as I have seen. But for _Chickens_, and other young Birds, they not being able immediately to pick till they are stronger, have a notable Provision made for such a Time, by a part of the Yolk of the Egg being inclosed in their Belly, a little before their Exclusion or Hatching, which serves for their Nourishment, till they are grown strong enough to pick up Meat. _Vid._ _Book VII. Chap. 4. Note (a)._

[aaaa] _Qui ~[Infantes]~ de ope nostrâ ac de divinâ misericordia plus merentur, qui in primo statim nativitatis sua ortu plorantes ac stentes, nil aliud faciunt quam deprecantur._ Cypr. Ep. ad Fid.

[bbbb] I might name here some of the Species of Birds, the whole Tribe almost of Insects, and some among other Tribes, that are able to subsist for many Months without Food, and some without Respiration too, or very little; But it may suffice to instance only in the _Land-Tortoise_, of the Structure of whose Heart and Lungs: See _Book VI. Chap. 5. Note (b)._

[cccc] _Inediam diutissimè tolerat Lupus, ut & alia omnia carnivora, licèt voracissima; magnâ utique naturæ providentiâ; quoniam esca non semper in promptu est._ _~Ray~’s_ Synops. Quadr. p. 174.

To the long Abstinence mentioned of Brute-Animals, I hope the Reader will excuse me if I add one or two Instances of extraordinary Abstinence among Men. One _Martha Taylor_, born in _Derbyshire_, by a Blow on the Back fell into such a Prostration of Appetite, that she took little Sustenance, but some Drops with a Feather, from _Christmas 1667._ for thirteen Months, and slept but little too all the Time. See Dr. _Sampson_’s Account thereof in _Ephem. Germ. T. 3. Obs. 173._

To this we may add the Case of _S. Chilton_, of _Tinsbury_, near _Bath_, who in the Years 1693, 1696, and 97, slept divers Weeks together. And although he would sometimes, in a very odd manner, take Sustenance, yet would lie a long Time without any, or with very little, and all without any considerable Decay. See _Phil. Trans._ Nᵒ. 304.

[dddd] They are admirable Instincts which the _Sieur de Beauplan_ relates of his own Knowledge, of the little Animals called _Bohaques_ in _Ukraine_. _They make Burroughs like ~Rabbets~, and in ~October~ shut themselves up, and do not come out again till ~April~.——They spend all the Winter under Ground, eating what they laid up in Summer.——Those that are lazy among them, they lay on their Backs, then lay a great handful of dry Herbage upon their Bodies, ~&c.~ then others drag those Drones to the Mouths of their Burroughs, and so those Creatures serve instead of Barrows, ~&c.~ I have often seen them practise this, and have had the Curiosity to observe them whole Days together.——Their Holes are parted like Chambers; some serve for Store-Houses, others for Burying-Places, ~&c.~ Their Government is nothing inferior to that of ~Bees~, ~&c.~ They never go abroad without posting a Centinel upon some high Ground, to give notice to the others whilst they are feeding. As soon as the Centinel sees any Body, it stands upon his Hind-Legs and whistles._ Beauplan’s _Description of ~Ukraine~_, _in_ Vol. I. _of the_ Collection of Voyages, _&c._

A like Instance of the Northern _Galli Sylvestres_, see in _Chap. 13. Note (g)._

As for the Scriptural Instance of the _Ant_, see hereafter _Book VIII. Chap. 5. Note (d)._

[eeee] I have in _Autumn_, not without Pleasure observed, not only the great Sagacity and Diligence of _Swine_, in hunting out the Stores of the _Field-Mice_; but the wonderful Precaution also of those little Animals, in hiding their Food beforehand against Winter. In the Time of Acorns falling, I have, by means of the _Hogs_, discovered, that the Mice had, all over the neighbouring fields, treasured up single Acorns in little Holes they had scratched, and in which they had carefully covered up the Acorn. These the _Hogs_ would, Day after Day, hunt out by their Smell.

CHAP. XII.

_Of the Cloathing of Animals._

Having in the foregoing Chapter somewhat largely taken a view of the Infinite Creator’s Wisdom and Goodness towards his Creatures, in ordering their Food, I shall be more brief in this Chapters in my View of their _Cloathing_[a]; another necessary Appendage of Life, and in which we have plain Tokens of the Creator’s Art, manifested in these two Particulars; the _Suitableness of Animals Cloathing to their Place and Occasions_; and the _Garniture and Beauty thereof_.

I. The Cloathing of Animals is suited to their Place of Abode, and Occasions there; a manifest Act of Design and Skill. For if there was a Possibility, that Animals could have been accoutred any other Way, than by God that made them, it must needs have come to pass, that their Cloathing would have been at all Adventures, or all made the same Mode and Way, or some of it, at least, inconvenient and unsuitable. But on the contrary, we find all is curious and compleat, nothing too much, nothing too little, nothing bungling, nothing but what will bear the Scrutiny of the most exquisite Artist; yea, and so far out-do his best Skill, that his most exquisite Imitations, even of the meanest Hair, Feather, Scale, or Shell, will be found only as so many ugly, ill-made Blunders and Botches, when strictly brought to the Test of good Glasses. But we shall find an Example remarkable enough in the present Case, if we only compare the best of Cloathing which Man makes for himself, with that given by the Creator for the Covering of the irrational Creatures. Of which it may be said, as our _Saviour_ doth of the Flowers of the Field, _Mat_. vi. 29. _That even Solomon, in all his Glory, was not arrayed like one of these._

But let us come to Particulars, and consider the Suitableness of the different Method the Creator hath taken in the Cloathing of Man, and of the irrational Animals. This _Pliny_[b] pathetically laments, and says, _It is hard to judge, whether Nature hath been a kinder Parent, or more cruel Step-Mother to Man._ For, says he, _Of all Creatures, he alone is covered with other’s Riches, whereas Nature hath given various Cloathing to other Animals, Shells, Hides, Prickles, Shag, Bristles, Hair, Down, Quills, Scales, Fleeces; and Trees she hath fenced with a Bark or two against the Injuries of Cold and Heat. Only poor naked Man_, says he, _is in the Day of his Birth cast into the wide World, to immediate crying and squalling; and none of all Creatures besides, so soon to Tears in the very beginning of their Life._

But here we have a manifest Demonstration of the Care and Wisdom of God towards his Creatures; that such should come into the World with their Bodies ready furnished and accommodated, who had neither Reason nor Forecast to contrive, nor Parts adapted to the Artifices and Workmanship of Cloathing; but for Man, he being endowed with the transcending Faculty of Reason, and thereby made able to help himself, by having Thoughts to contrive, and withal Hands to effect, and sufficient Materials[c] afforded him from the Skins and Fleeces of Animals, and from various Trees and Plants: Man, I say, having all this Provision made for him, therefore the Creator hath wisely made him naked, and left him to shift for himself, being so well able to help himself.

And a notable Act this is of the Wisdom of God, not only as the more setting forth his Care and Kindness to them that most needed his Help, the helpless irrational Animals, and in his not over-doing his Work; but also as it is most agreeable to the Nature and State of Man[d], both on natural and political Accounts. That Man should cloath himself is most agreeable to his Nature, particularly (among other Things,) as being most salutary, and most suitable to his Affairs. For by this Means, Man can adapt his Cloathing to all Seasons, to all Climates, to this, or to any Business. He can hereby keep himself sweet and clean, fence off many Injuries; but above all, by this Method of Cloathing, with the natural Texture of his Skin adapted to it, it is that grand Means of Health, namely, _insensible Perspiration_[e] is perform’d, at least greatly promoted, without which an human Body would be soon over-run with Disease.

In the next Place, there are good political Reasons for Man’s cloathing himself, inasmuch as his Industry is hereby employ’d in the Exercises of his Art and Ingenuity; his Diligence and Care are exerted in keeping himself sweet, cleanly, and neat; many Callings and Ways of Life arise from thence, and, (to name no more,) the Ranks and Degrees of Men are hereby in some Measure render’d visible to others, in the several Nations of the Earth.

Thus it is manifestly best for Man that he should cloath himself.

But for the poor shiftless Irrationals, it is a prodigious Act of the great Creator’s Indulgence, that they are all ready furnished with such Cloathing, as is proper to their Place and Business[f]. Some covered with Hair[g], some with Feathers[h], some with Scales, some with Shells[i], some only Skin, and some with firm and stout Armature; all nicely accommodated to the Element in which the Creature liveth, and its occasions there[k]. To _Quadrupeds_ Hair is a commodious Cloathing; which, together with the apt Texture of their Skin, fitteth them for all Weathers, to lie on the Ground, and to do the Offices of Man; and the thick and warm Furs and Fleeces of others, are not only a good Defensative against the Cold and Wet; but also a soft Bed to repose themselves in; and to many of them, a comfortable covering, to nurse and cherish their tender Young.

And as Hair to Quadrupeds; so Feathers are as commodious a Dress to such as fly in the Air, to Birds, and some Insects; not only a good Guard against Wet and Cold, and a comfortable Covering to such as hatch and brood their Young; but also most commodious for their Flight. To which purpose they are nicely and neatly placed every where on the Body, to give them an easie Passage through the Air[l], and to assist in the wafting their Body through that thin Medium. For which Service, how curious is their Texture for Lightness, and withal for Strength? Hollow and thin for Lightness, but withal, context and firm for Strength. And where ’tis necessary they should be filled, what a light and strong medullary Substance is it they are filled with? By which curious Contrivances, even the very heaviest Parts made for Strength, are so far from being a Load to the Body, that they rather assist in making it light and buoyant, and capacitate it for Flight. But for the Vanes, the lightest part of the Feather, how curiously are they wrought with capillary Filaments, neatly interwoven together[m], whereby they are not only light, but also sufficiently close and strong, to keep the Body warm, and guard it against the Injuries of Weather, and withal, to impower the Wings, like so many Sails, to make strong Impulses upon the Air in their Flight[n]. Thus curious, thus artificial, thus commodious is the Cloathing of Beasts and Birds: Concerning which, more in proper Place.

And no less might I shew that of Reptiles and Fishes[o] to be, if it was convenient to enlarge upon this Branch of the Creator’s Works. How well adapted are the _Annuli_ of some Reptiles, and the Contortions of the Skin of others, not only to fence the Body sufficiently against outward Injuries; but to enable them to creep, to perforate the Earth[p], and in a word, to perform all the Offices of their Reptile State, much better than any other Tegument of the Body would do? And the same might be said of the Covering of the Inhabitants of the Waters, particularly the Shells of some, which are a strong Guard to the tender Body that is within, and consistent enough with their slower Motion; and the Scales and Skins of others, affording them an easie and swift Passage through the Waters. But it may be sufficient to give only a Hint of these Things, which more properly belong to another Place.

Thus hath the indulgent Creator furnish’d the whole animal World with convenient, suitable Cloathing.

II. Let us in the next Place take a short View of the _Garniture_[q], and _Beauty_ thereof. And here we shall thus far, at least, descry it to be beautiful; that it is compleat and workman-like. Even the Cloathing of the most sordid Animals, those that are the least beautified with Colours, or rather whose Cloathing may regrate the Eye[r]; yet when we come strictly to view them, and seriously consider the nice Mechanism of one Part, the admirable Texture of another, and the exact Symmetry of the Whole; we discern such Strokes of inimitable Skill, such incomparable Curiosity, that we may say with _Solomon_, Eccl. iii. 11. [God] _hath made every Thing beautiful in his Time_.

But for a farther Demonstration, of the super-eminent Dexterity of his almighty Hand, he hath been pleas’d, as it were on Purpose, to give surprizing Beauties to divers Kinds of Animals. What radiant Colours are many of them, particularly some Birds and Insects[s], bedeck’d with! What a prodigious Combination is there often of these, yea, how nice an Air frequently of meaner Colours[t], as to captivate the Eye of all Beholders, and exceed the Dexterity of the most exquisite Pencil to copy?

And now, when we thus find a whole World of Animals, cloathed in the wisest Manner, the most suitable to the Element in which they live, the Place in which they reside, and their State and Occasions there; when those that are able to shift for themselves, are left to their own Discretion and Diligence, but the Helpless well accouter’d and provided for; when such incomparable Strokes of Art and Workmanship appear in all, and such inimitable Glories and Beauties in the Cloathing of others; who can, without the greatest Obstinacy and Prejudice, deny this to be _GOD_’s Handy-work? The gaudy, or even the meanest Apparel which Man provideth for himself, we readily enough own to be the Contrivance, the Work of Man: And shall we deny the Cloathing of all the Animal World betides (which infinitely surpasseth all the Robes of earthly Majesty; shall we, dare we, deny that) to be the Work of any Thing less than of an infinite, intelligent Being, whose Art and Power are equal to such glorious Work!

FOOTNOTES:

[a] Concerning the Cloathing of Animals, _Aristotle_ observes, _That such Animals have Hair as go on Feet and are viviparous; and that such are covered with a Shell, as go on Feet, and are oviparous_, Hist. Anim. l. 3. c. 10.

[b] _Cujus ~[Hominis]~ causâ videtur cuncta alia genuisse Natura, magnâ & sævâ mercede contra tanta sua munera: ut non sit satìs æstimare, Parens melior homini, an tristior Noverca fuerit. Ante omnia unum Animantium cunctorum alienis velat opibus: cæteris variè tegumenta tribuit, testas, cortices, coria, spinas, villos, setas, pilos, plumam, pennas, squamas, vellera. Truncos etiam arboresque cortice, interdum gemino, à frigoribus, & calore tutata est. Hominem tantum nudum, & in nudâ humo, natali die abjicit ad vagitus statim & ploratum, nullumque tot animalium aliud ad lacrymas, & has protinus vita principio._ Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 7. Proœm.

Let _Seneca_ answer this Complaint of _Pliny_, although perhaps what he saith might be more properly noted in another Place: _Quisquis es iniquus æstimator fortis humana, cogita quanta nobis tribuerit Parens noster, quanto valentiora animalia sub jugum miserimus, quanto velociora assequamur, quàm nihil sit mortale non sub ictu nostro positum. Tot virtutes accepimus, tot artes, animum denique cui nihil non eodem quo intendit momento pervium est, Sideribus velociorem, ~&c.~_ Senec. de Benef. l. 2. c. 29.

[c] _Mirantur plurimi quomodo tutè, & sanè vivant homines in horrendis frigoribus plagæ Septentrionalis; hancque levem quæstionem ultra 30 annos audieram in Italia, præsertim ab Æthiopibus, & Indis, quibus onerosus videtur vestitus sub Zonâ terridâ.——Quibus respondetur,——Gaudet Indus multiplici plumarum genere, magìs forsan pro tegumento, quàm necessitate: rursus Scytha villoso vestitu——Ita sub polo Arctico adversùs asperrimas hyemes——opportuna remedia faciliter administrat ~[Natura]~. Ligna videlicet in maxima copia, & levissimo pretio, & demum Pelles diversorum animalium, tam sylvestrium quàm domesticorum._ Then he gives a Catalogue of them, and saith, _Quarum omnium experti pellifices ita ingeniosè noverunt mixturas componere, ut pulcherrimum decorum ostendat varietas, & calidissimum fomentum adjuncta mollities._ Ol. Mag. Hist. l. 6. c. 20.

To this Guard against the Cold, namely, of Fire and Cloathing; I hope the Reader will excuse me, if I take this Opportunity of adding some other Defensatives Nature, (or rather the great Author of Nature,) hath afforded these northern Regions: Such are their high Mountains, abounding, as _Ol. Magnus_ saith, through all Parts; also their numerous Woods, which besides their Fire, do, with the Mountains, serve as excellent Screens against the Cold, piercing Air and Winds. Their prodigious Quantities of Minerals, and Metals, also afford Heat, and warm Vapours, _Mineræ septentrionalium regionum satìs multæ, magnæ, diversæ, & opulentæ sunt_, saith the same curious, and (for his Time,) learned Archbishop, _l. 6. c. 1._ and in other Places. And for the Warmth they afford, the _Volcano_’s of those Parts are in Evidence; as are also their terrible Thunder and Lightning, which are observ’d to be the most severe and mischievous in their metalline Mountains, in which large Herds of Cattle are sometimes destroy’d; the Rocks so rent and shatter’d, that new Veins of Silver are thereby discover’d; and a troublesome Kind of Quinsie is produc’d in their Throats, by the stench, and poisonous Nature of the sulphureous Vapours, which they dissolve, by drinking warm Beer and Butter together, as _Olaus_ tells us in the same Book, _Chap. 11._

To all which Defensatives, I shall, in the last Place add, the warm Vapours of their Lakes, (some of which are prodigiously large, of 130 _Italian_ Miles in Length, and not much less in Breadth;) also of their Rivers, especially the Vapours which arise from the Sea. Of which Guard against severe Cold, we have lately had a convincing Proof in the _great Frost_, in 1708, wherein, when _England_, _Germany_, _France_, _Denmark_; yea, the more southerly Regions of _Italy_, _Switzerland_, and other Parts suffer’d severely, _Ireland_ and _Scotland_ felt very little of it, hardly more than in other Winters; of the Particulars of which, having given an Account in the _Phil. Trans._ Nᵒ. 324. I shall thither refer the Reader. But it seems this is what doth ordinarily befal those northern Parts; particularly the _Islands_ of _Orkney_, of which the learned Dr. _Wallace_ gives this Account: _Here the Winters are generally more subject to Rain than Snow; nor doth the Frost and Snow continue so long here, as in other Parts of ~Scotland~; but the Wind in the mean Time will often blow very boisterously; and it Rains sometimes, not by Drops, but by spouts of Water, as if whole Clouds fell down at once. In the Year 1680, in the Month of ~June~, after great Thunder, there fell Flakes of Ice near a Foot thick._ _Wall._ Account of _Ork._ Chap. 1. _p. 4._ From which last Passage I observe; That although in those Parts, the Atmosphere near the Earth be warm, it is excessively cold above; so as to freeze some of those Spouts of Water in their Descent, into such great, and almost incredible Masses of Hail. And whence can this Warmth proceed, but from the Earth, or Sea, emitting Heat sufficient to stave off the Cold above? Consult _Book II. Chap. 5. Note (c)._

[d] _Sicut enim si innata sibi ~[i.e. Homini]~ aliqua haberat arma, illa ei sola semper adessent, ita & si artem aliquam Natura fortitus esset, reliquas sanè non haberet. Quia verò ei melius erat omnibus armis, omnibusque artibus uti, neutrum eorum à naturâ ipsi propterea datum est._ Galen. de Us. Part. l. 1. c. 4.

[e] Concerning _insensible Perspiration_, _Sanctorius_ observes, That it much exceeds all the Sensible put together. _De Stat. Med. Aph. 4._ That as much is evacuated by _insensible Perspiration_ in one Day, as is by _Stool_ in fourteen Days. Particularly, that, in a Night’s Time, about sixteen Ounces is commonly sent out by _Urine_, four Ounces by Stool; but above forty Ounces by _insensible Perspiration_, Aphor. 59, 60. That if a Man eats and drinks 8 _l._ in a Day, 5 _l._ of it is spent in _insensible Perspiration_, §. 1. Aph. 6. And as to the Times, he saith, _Ab assumpto cibo 5 horis 1 l. circiter perspirabilis——exhalare solet, à 5a ad 12am 3 l. circiter; à 12a ad 16am vix selibram_, Aph. 56.

And as to the wonderful Benefits of _insensible Perspiration_, they are abundantly demonstrated by the same learned Person, _ubi supra_; as also by _Borelli_ in his second Part, _De Mot. Animal_, Prop. 168. who saith, _Necessaria est insensibilis Transpiratio, ut vita Animalis conservetur._

[f] _Animantium verò quanta varietas est? Quanta ad cam rem vis, ut in suo quæque genere permaneant? Quaram aliæ coriis tectæ sunt, aliæ villis vesticæ, aliæ spinis hirsutæ: plumâ alias, alias squamâ videmus obductas, alias esse cornibus armatas, alias habere effugia pennarum._ Cic. de Nat. Deor. l. 2. c. 47.

[g] From _Malpighi_’s curious Observations of the _Hair_, I shall note three Things. 1. Their Structure is fistulous, or tubular; which hath long been a Doubt among the curious. _Fistulosum ~[esse Pilum]~ demonstrant lustratio pilarum à caudâ & collo Equorum, ~&c.~——præcipuè setarum Apri, quæ patentiorem ex fistulis compositionem exhibent. Est autem dictus Apri pilus Cylindricum corpus quasi diaphanum——fistularum aggere conflatum, & speciem columnæ striatæ præ se fert. Componentes fistulæ in gyrum situatæ in apice patentiores redduntur; nam hians pilus in geminas dividitur partes, & componentes minimæ fistulæ——libersores redditæ manifestantur, ita ut enumerari possunt; has autem 20, & ultra numeravi.——Expositæ fistulæ——tubulosæ sunt, & frequentibus tunicis transversaliter situatis, veluti valvulis pollent. Et quoniam Spinæ, in Erinaceis præcipui, ~&c.~ nil aliud sunt, quam duri & rigidi pili, ideo, ~&c.~_ And then he describes the _Hedgehog_’s Spines, in which those Tubes manifestly appear; together, with medullary Valves and Cells; not inelegant, which he hath figur’d in _Tab. 16._ at the End of his Works.

That which this sagacious, and not enough to be commended Observer, took notice of in the Structure of Hair, and its Parity to the Spines; I have my self observ’d in some Measure to be true, in the Hair of _Cats_, _Rats_, _Mice_, and divers other Animals; which look very prettily when view’d with a good Microscope. The Hair of a _Mouse_, (the most transparent of any I have view’d,) seems to be one single transparent Tube, with a Pith made up of a fibrous Substance, running in dark Lines; in some Hairs tranversly, in others spirally, as in _Fig. 14, 15, 16, 17._ These darker medullary Parts, or Lines, I have observ’d, are no other than small Fibres convolved round, and lying closer together than in other Parts of the Hair. They run from the Bottom, to the Top of the Hair; and I imagine, serve to the gentle Evacuation of some Humour out of the Body; perhaps the Hair serves as well for the _insensible Perspiration_ of hairy Animals, as to fence against Cold and Wet. In _Fig. 14, 16_, is represented the Hair of a _Mouse_, as it appears through a small Magnifier; and in _Fig. 15, 17_, as it appears when view’d with a larger Magnifier.

Upon another Review, I imagine, That although in _Fig. 14, 15_, the dark Parts of the Pith seem to be transverse; that they, as well as in the two other Figures, run round in a screw-like Fashion.

[h] See _Book VII. Chap. 1. Note (d) (e)._

[i] See _Chap. XIV. Note (c)._

[k] It is a Sign some wise Artist was a Contriver of the Cloathing of Animals; not only as their Cloathing varies, as their Way of Living doth; but also because every Part of their Bodies is furnish’d with proper suitable Cloathing. Thus divers Animals, that have their Bodies cover’d for the most Part with short, smooth Hair; have some Parts left naked, where Hair would be an Annoyance: And some Parts beset with long Hair; as the Mane and Tail; And some with stiff, strong Bristles; as about the Nose; And sometimes within the Nostrils; to guard off, or give warning of Annoyances.

[l] The Feathers being placed from the Head towards the Tail, in close and neat Order, and withal preened and dressed by the Contents of the Oil-Bag, afford as easie a Passage through the Air, as a Boat new cleaned and dressed finds in its Passage through the Waters. Whereas, were the Feathers placed the contrary, or any other way (as they would have been, had they been placed by Chance, or without Art) they would then have gathered Air, and been a great Encumbrance to the Passage of the Body through the Air. See _Book VII. Chap. 1. Note (b)._

[m] In _Book VII. Chap. 1. Note (e)._ there is a particular Account of the Mechanism of their Vanes, from some nice Microscopical Observations, and therefore I shall take no farther Notice of it here.

[n] _Vid._ _Borell. de Mot. Animal._ Prop. 182. Vol. I.

[o] See _Book IX._

[p] For a Sample of this Branch of my Survey, let us chuse the Tegument of _Earth-Worms_, which we shall find compleatly adapted to their Way or Life and Motion, being made in the most compleat Manner possible for terebrating the Earth, and creeping where their Occasions lead them. For their Body is made throughout of small Rings, and these Rings have a curious _Apparatus_ of Muscles, enabling those Creatures with great Strength to dilate, extend, or contract their _Annuli_, and whole Body; those _Annuli_ also are each of them armed with small, stiff, sharp _Beards_, or _Prickles_, which they can open, to lay hold on, or shut up close to their Body: And lastly, Under the Skin there lies a _slimy Juice_, that they emit, as Occasion is, at certain Perforations between the _Annuli_, to lubricate the Body, and facilitate their Passage into the Earth. By all which Means they are enabled with great Speed, Ease, and Safety, to thrust and wedge themselves into the Earth; which they could not do, had their Bodies been covered with Hair, Feathers, Scales, or such like Cloathing of the other Creatures. See more concerning this Animal, _Book IX. Chap. 1. Note (a)._

[q] _Aristotle_, in his _Hist. Anim. l. 3. c. 12._ names several Rivers, that by being drank of, change the Colour of the Hair.

[r] For an Example; Let us take the Cloathing of the _Tortoise_ and _Viper_; because, by an incurious View, it rather regrateth, than pleaseth the Eye: But yet, by an accurate Survey, we find the Shells of the Former, and the Scales of the Latter, to be a curious Piece of Mechanism, neatly made; and so compleatly, and well put, and tack’d together, as to exceed any human Composures: Of the Latter see more in _Book IX. Chap. 1. Note (c)._

[s] It would be endless to enter into the Particulars of the beautiful _Birds_ and _Insects_ of our _European_ Parts; but especially those inhabiting the Countries between the Tropicks, which are observed as much to exceed our Birds in their Colours, as ours do theirs in their Singing.

[t] The _Wryneck_, at a Distance, is a Bird of mean Colour; neither are indeed its Colours radiant, or beautiful, singly considered: But when it is in the Hand we see its light and darker Colours so curiously mixed together, as to give the Bird a surprizing Beauty. The same is also observable in many Insects, particularly of the _Phalæna kind_.

CHAP. XIII.

_Of the Houses and Habitation of Animals._

Having in the last Chapter, as briefly as well I could, surveyed the _Cloathing_ of Animals, I shall in this take a View of their _Houses_, _Nests_, their _Cells_ and _Habitations_; another Thing no less necessary to their Well-being than the last; and in which the Great Creator hath likewise signalized his Care and Skill, by giving Animals an architectonick Faculty, to build themselves convenient Places of Retirement, in which to repose and secure themselves, and to nurse up their Young.

And here, as before, we may consider the case of Man, and that of the irrational Animals. Man having (as I said) the Gift of Reason and Understanding, is able to shift for himself, to contrive and build, as his Pleasure leads him, and his Abilities will admit of. From the meanest Huts and Cottages, he can erect himself stately Buildings, bedeck them with exquisite Arts of Architecture, Painting, and other Garniture, ennoble them, and render them delightful with pleasant Gardens, Fountains, Avenues, and what not? For Man therefore the Creator hath abundantly provided in this respect, by giving him an Ability to help himself. And a wise Provision this is, inasmuch as it is an excellent Exercise of the Wit, the Ingenuity, the Industry and Care of Man.

But since Ingenuity, without Materials, would be fruitless, the Materials therefore which the Creator hath provided the World with, for this very Service of Building, deserves our Notice. The great Varieties of Trees[a], Earth, Stones and Plants, answering every Occasion and Purpose of Man for this Use, in all Ages and Places all the World over, is a great Act of the Creator’s Goodness; as manifesting, that since he has left Man to shift for himself, it should not be without sufficient Help to enable him to do so, if he would but make use of them, and the Sense and Reason which God hath given him.

Thus sufficient Provision is made for the Habitation of Man.

And no less shall we find is made for the rest of the Creatures; who although they want the Power of Reason to vary their Methods, and cannot add to, or diminish from, or any way make Improvements upon their natural Way; yet we find that natural Instinct, which the Creator’s infinite Understanding hath imprinted in them, to be abundantly sufficient, nay, in all Probability, the very best or only Method they can take, or that can be invented for the respective Use and Purpose of each peculiar Species of Animals[b]. If some Creatures make their Nests in Holes, some in Trees, some in Shrubs, some in the Earth[c], some in Stone, some in the Waters, some here, and some there, or have none at all; yet we find, that that Place, that Method of Nidification doth abundantly answer the Creatures Use and Occasions. They can there sufficiently and well repose, and secure themselves, lay, and breed up their Young. We are so far from discovering any Inconvenience in any of their respective Ways, from perceiving any Loss befal the Species, any decay, any perishing of their Young; that in all Probability, on the contrary, in that particular Way they better thrive, are more secure, and better able to shift for, and help themselves. If, for Instance, some Beasts make to themselves no Habitation, but lie abroad in the open Air, and there produce their Young; in this case we find there is no need it should be otherwise, by Reason they are either taken care of by Man [d], or in no Danger, as other Creatures, from Abroad. If others reposite their Young in Holes[e] and Dens, and secure themselves also therein, it is, because such Guard, such Security is wanting, their Lives being sought either by the Hostility of Man, or to satisfie the Appetite of rapacious Creatures[f]. If among Birds, some build their Nests close, some open, some with this, some with another Material, some in Holes, some in Trees, some on the Ground[g], some on Rocks and Crags on high (of which God himself hath given an Instance in the _Eagle_, Job xxxix. 27, 28.) And so among the Insect and Reptile Kinds, if some reposite their Eggs or Young in the Earth, some in Wood, some in Stone, some on one Kind of Plant, some on another, some in warm and dry Places, some in the Water and moist Places, and some in their own Bodies only, as shall be shewn in proper Place; in all these Cases it is in all Probability, the best or only Method the Animal can take for the Hatching and Production of its Young, for their Supplies, Safety, or some other main Point of their Being or Well-being. This is manifest enough in many Cases, and therefore probable in all. It is manifest that such Animals, for Instance, as breed in the Waters (as not only Fish, but divers Insects, and other Land-Animals do) that their Young cannot be hatched, fed, or nursed up in any other Element. It is manifest also, that Insects, which lay their Eggs on this, and that, and the other agreeable Tree, or Plant, or in Flesh, _&c._ that it is by that Means their Young are fed and nursed up. And it is little to be doubted also, but that these Matrixes may much conduce to the Maturation and Production of the Young. And so in all other the like Cases of Nidification, of Heat or Cold, Wet or Dry, Exposed or Open, in all Probability this is the best Method for the Animal’s Good, most salutary and agreeable to its Nature, most for its Fecundity, and the Continuance and Increase of its Species; to which every Species of Animals is naturally prompt and inclined.

Thus admirable is the natural Sagacity and Instinct[h] of the irrational Animals in the Convenience and Method of their Habitations. And no less is it in the Fabrick of them. Their architectonick Skill, exerted in the Curiosity and Dexterity of their Works, and exceeding the Skill of Man to imitate; this, I say, deserves as much or more Admiration and Praise, than that of the most exquisite Artist among Men. For with what inimitable Art[i] do these poor untaught Creatures lay a parcel of rude and ugly Sticks and Straws, Moss and Dirt together, and form them into commodious Nests? With what Curiosity do they line them within, wind and place every Hair, Feather, or Lock of Wool, to guard the tender Bodies of themselves and their Young, and to keep them warm? And with what Art and Craft do many of them thatch over, and coat their Nests without, to dodge and deceive the Eye of Spectators, as well as to guard and fence against the Injuries of Weather[k]? With what prodigious Subtilty do some foreign Birds[l] not only plat and weave the fibrous Parts of Vegetables together, and curiously tunnel them, and commodiously form them into Nests, but also artificially suspend them on the tender Twigs of Trees, to keep them out of the reach of rapacious Animals?

And so for _Insects_, those little, weak, those tender Creatures; yet, what admirable Artists are they in this Business of Nidification! With what great Diligence doth the little _Bee_ gather its Combs from various Trees[m] and Flowers, the _Wasp_ from solid[n] Timber! And with what prodigious geometrical Subtilty do those little Animals work their deep hexagonal Cells, the only proper Figure that the best Mathematician could chuse for such a Combination of Houses[o]! With what Accuracy do other Insects perforate the Earth[p], Wood, yea, Stone it self[q]! For which Service, the compleat Apparatus of their Mouths[r], and Feet[s], deserves particular Observation, as hath been, and will be hereafter observ’d. And further yet; With what Care and Neatness do most of those little sagacious Animals line those their Houses within, and seal them up, and fence them without[t]! How artificially will others fold up the Leaves of Trees and Plants[u]; others house themselves in Sticks and Straws; others glue light and floating Bodies together[w], and by that Artifice make themselves floating Houses in the Waters, to transport themselves at Pleasure after their Food, or other necessary Occasions of Life! And for a Close, let us take the scriptural Instance of the _Spider_, Prov. xxx. 28. which is one of the four little Things, which, v. 44. _Agur_ says, is _exceeding Wise: The Spider taketh hold with her Hands, and is in Kings Palaces_[x]. I will not dispute the Truth of our _English_ Translation of this Text, but supposing the Animal mention’d to be that which is meant; it is manifest, that the Art of that Species of Creatures, in spinning their various Webs, and the Furniture their Bodies afford to that Purpose, are an excellent Instinct, and Provision of Nature, setting forth its glorious Author.

And now from this short and transient View of the architectonick Faculty of Animals, especially the Irrationals; we may easily perceive some superiour and wise Being was certainly concern’d in their Creation or Original. For, how is it possible that an irrational Creature should, with ordinary and coarse, or indeed any Materials, be ever able to perform such Works, as exceed even the Imitation of a rational Creature? How could the Bodies of many of them, (particularly the last mention’d,) be furnish’d with architective Materials? How could they ever discover them to be in their Bodies, or know what Use to make of them? We must therefore necessarily conclude, That the Irrationals either have Reason and Judgment, not only Glimmerings thereof, but some of its superiour Acts, as Wisdom and Foresight, Discretion, Art and Care; or else, that they are only passive in the Case, and act by Instinct, or by the Reason of some superiour Being imprinted in their Nature, or some Way or other, (be it how it will,) congenial with them. That they are Rational, or excel Man in Art and Wisdom, none surely will be so foolish as to say: And therefore we must conclude, That those excellent Ends they pursue, and that admirable Art they exert, is none of their own, but owing to that infinitely wise and excellent Being, of whom it may be said, with reference to the irrational, as well as rational Creatures, as it is, _Prov_. ii. _6_. _The Lord giveth Wisdom; out of his Mouth cometh Knowledge and Understanding._

[Illustration]

FOOTNOTES:

[a]

_——Dant utile lignum_ _Navigiis Pinos, domibus Cedrosque, Cupressosque:_ _Hinc radios trivere Rotis, hinc tympana plaustris_ _Agricolæ, & pandas ratibus posuere carinas._ _Viminibus Salices fœcundæ, frondibus Ulmi;_ _At Myrtus validis hastilibus, & bona bello,_ _Cornus; Ityræos Taxi torquentur in arcus._ _Nec Tiliæ leves, aut torno rasile Buxum,_ _Non formam accipiunt, ferroque cavantur acuto:_ _Necnon & torrentum undam levis innatat Alnus_ _Missa Pado: necnon & apes examina condunt_ _Corticibusque cavis, vitiosæque Ilicis alveo._

Virg. Georg. l. 2. carm. 442.

[b] See _Chap. 15._ and _Book VIII. Chap. 6._

[c] Many of the _Vespæ-Ichneumones_ are remarkable enough for their Nidification and Provision for their Young. Those that build in Earth (who commonly have golden and black Rings round their _Alvi_) having lined the little Cells, they have perforated, lay therein their Eggs, and then carry into them Maggots from the Leaves of Trees, and seal them up close and neatly. And another _Ichneumon_, more of the _Vespa_ than _Musca-Ichneumon_ Kind (having a little Sting in its Tail, of a black Colour) gave me the Pleasure, one Summer, of seeing it build its Nest in a little Hole in my Study-Window. This Cell was coated about with an odoriferous, resinous Gum, collected, I suppose, from some Fir-Trees near; after which it laid two Eggs (I think the Number was) and then carried in divers Maggots, some bigger than it self. These it very sagaciously sealed close up into the Nest, leaving them there doubtless, partly to assist the Incubation; and especially for Food to the future Young when hatched.

Of this Artifice of these _Ichneumons_, _Aristotle_ himself takes Notice, (but I believe he was scarce aware of the Eggs sealed up with the Spiders). Ὁι δὲ Σφῆκες Ιχνεύμονες καλούμενοι, &c. _As to the ~Vespæ~, called ~Ichneumones~, (less than others) they kill ~Spiders~, and carry them into their Holes, and having sealed them up with Dirt, they therein hatch, and produce those of the same Kind._ Hist. Anim. l. 5. c. 20.

To what hath been said about these _Ichneumon Wasps_, I shall add one Observation more, concerning the providential Structure of their Mouth in every of their Tribes, _viz._ their Jaws are not only very strong, but nicely sized, curved and placed for gnawing and scraping those compleat little Holes they perforate in Earth, Wood, yea in Stone it self.

[d] _Tully_ having spoken of the Care of some Animals towards their Young, by which they are nursed and brought up, saith, _Accedit etiam ad nonnulloram animantium, & earum rerum quas terra gignit, conservationem, & salutem, hominum etiam solertia & diligentia. Nam multæ & pecudes, & stirpes sunt, quæ fine procuratione hominum salvæ esse non possunt._ Cic. de Nat. Deor. l. 2. c. 52.

[e] Prov. xxx. 26. _The Conies are but a feeble Folk, yet make they their Houses in the Rocks._

[f] See _Note (l)._

[g] It is a notable Instinct which _Ol. Magnus_ tells of the _Galli Sylvestres_ in his Northern Country, to secure themselves against the Cold and Storms of the Winter. _Cùm nives instar collium terræ superficiem ubique cooperiunt, ramosque arborum diutiùs deprimunt & condensant, certos fructus Betulæ arboris——in formâ longi Piperis vorant, & glutiunt indigestos; idque tantâ aviditate, ac quantitate, ut repletum guttur toto corpore majus appareat. Deinde partitis agminibus sese inter medios nivium colles immergunt, præfortim in Jan. Febr. Martio, quando nives ut turbines, typhones, vel tempestates gravissimæ è nubibus descendunt. Cumque coopertæ sunt, certis hebdomadis cibo in gutture collecto, egesto, & resumpto vivunt. Venatorum canibus non produntur.——Quod si præsentiunt nivem imminere majorem, prædicto fructu, iterum devorato, aliud domicilium captant, in eoque manent usque ad sinem Martii, ~&c.~_ Ol. Mag. Hist. l. 19. c. 33.

[h] It is a very odd Story (which I rather mention for the Reader’s Diversion, than for its Truth) which Dr. _Lud. de Beaufort_ relates, _Vir fide dignus narravit mihi, quod cùm semel, animi gratiâ, nidum aviculæ ligno obturâsset, seque occultâsset, cupidus videndi, quid in tali occasione præstaret; illa cùm frustra sæpiùs tentâsset rostro illud auferre, casus admodum impatiens, abiit, & post aliquod temporis spatium reversa est, rostro gerens plantulam, quâ obturamento applicatâ, paulò post, illud veluti telum eripuit tantâ vi, ut dispersa impetu herbula, ac occasionem ipsi, ab aviculâ ejus virtutem discendi, præripuerit._ Cosmop. divina, Sect. 5. C. 1. Had he told us what the Plant was, we might have given better Credit to this Story.

[i] Of the Subtilty of Birds in Nidification, see _Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 10. c. 33._

[k] Among many Instances that might be given of this Subtilty of birds, and other Creatures, that of the _long-tailed Titmouse_ deserves Observation, who with great Art builds her Nest with Mosses, Hair, and the Webs of _Spiders_, cast out from them when they take their Flight (see _Book VIII. Chap. 4. Note (e)_) with which the other Materials are strongly tied together. Having neatly built, and covered her Nest with these Materials without; she thatcheth it on the top with the _Muscus arboreus ramosus_, or such like broad, whitish Moss, to keep out Rain, and to dodge the Spectator’s Eye; and within she lineth it with a great Number of soft Feathers; so many, that I confess I could not but admire how so small a Room could hold them, especially that they could be laid so close and handsomely together, to afford sufficient Room for a Bird with so long a Tail, and so numerous an Issue as this Bird commonly hath, which Mr. _Ray_ saith (_Synops. Method. Avium_, p. 74.) _Ova inter omnes aviculas numerosissima ponit._ See more of the Nest of this Bird, from _Aldrovand._ in _Willugh. Ornith._ p. 243.

[l] The Nest of the _Guira tangeima_, the _icterus minor_, and the _Jupujuba_, or whatever other Name the _American Hang-Nests_ may be called by, are of this Kind. Of which see _Willughby_’s _Ornith. Lib. 2. Chap. 5. Sect. 12, 13._ Also Dr. _Grew_’s _Museum Reg. Soc. Part 1. Sect. 4. Chap. 4._ These Nests I have divers Times seen, particularly in great Perfection in our _R. S._ Repository, and in the noble and well-furnished _Museum_ of my often-commended Friend Sir _Hans Sloane_; and at the same Time I could not but admire at the neat Mechanism of them, and the Sagacity of the Bird, in hanging them on the Twigs of Trees, to secure their Eggs and Young from the _Apes_.

[m] I mention Trees, because I have seen _Bees_ gather the Gum of Fir-Trees, which at the same Time gave me the Pleasure of seeing their way of loading their Thighs therewith; performed with great Art and Dexterity.

[n] _Wasps_, at their first Coming, may be observ’d to frequent Posts, Boards, and other Wood that is dry and sound; but never any that is rotten. There they may be heard to scrape and gnaw; and what they so gnaw off, they heap close together between their Chin and Fore-Legs, until they have gotten enough for a Burden, which they then carry away in their Mouths, to make their Cells with.

[o] Circular Cells would have been the most capacious; but this would by no Means have been a convenient Figure, by Reason much of the Room would have been taken up by Vacancies between the Circles; therefore it was necessary to make Use of some of the rectilinear Figures. Among which only three could be of Use; of which _Pappus Alexandrin_. thus discourseth; _Cùm igitur tres figuræ sunt, quæ per seipsas locum circa idem punctum consistentem replere possunt, Triangulum seil. Quadratum & Hexagonum, Apes illam quæ ex pluribus angulis constat sapienter delegerunt, utpote suspicantes eam plus mellis capere quàm utramvis reliquarum. At Apes quidem illud tantùm quod ipsis utile est cognoscunt, viz. Hexagonum Quadrato & Triangulo esse majus & plus Mellis capere posse, nimirum æquali materiâ in constructionem uniuscujusque consumptâ. Nos verò qui plus sapientiæ quàm Apes habere profitemur, aliquid etiam magìs insigne investigabimus._ Collect. Math. l. 5.

[p] See before _Note (c)._

[q] See _Chap. 11. Note (x)._

[r] See _Chap. 11. Note (y)._

[s] Among many Examples, the Legs and Feet of the _Mole-Cricket_, (_Gryllotalpa_,) are very remarkable. The Fore-Legs are very brawny and strong; and the Feet armed each with four flat strong Claws, together with a small Lamina, with two larger Claws, and a third with two little Claws: Which Lamina is joynted to the Bottom of the Foot, to be extended, to make the Foot wider, or withdrawn within the Foot. These Feet are placed to scratch somewhat sideways as well as downward, after the Manner of _Moles_ Feet; and they are very like them also in Figure.

Somewhat of this Nature, _Swammerdam_ observes of the Worms of the _Ephemeron_. _To this Purpose, ~[to dig their Cells,]~ the wise Creator hath furnish’d them_, (saith he,) _with fit Members. For, besides that their two Fore-Legs are formed somewhat like those of the ordinary ~Moles~, or ~Gryllotalpa~; he hath also furnish’d them with two toothy Cheeks, somewhat like the Sheers of ~Lobsters~, which serve them more readily to bore the Clay._ Swammerdam’s Ephem. Vit. Publish’d by Dr. _Tyson_, Chap. 3.

[t] See the before-cited _Note (c)._

[u] They are for the most Part, some of the _Phalænæ_-Tribe, which inhabit the tunnelled, convolved Leaves, that we meet with on Vegetables in the Spring and Summer. And it is a somewhat wonderful Artifice, how so small and weak a Creature, as one of those newly-hatch’d Maggots, (for doubtless it is they, not the Parent-Animal, because she emits no Web, nor hath any tectrine Art,) can be able to convolve the stubborn Leaf, and then bind it in that neat round Form, with the Thread or Web it weaves from its own Body; with which it commonly lines the convolved Leaf, and stops up the two Ends, to prevent its own falling out; and _Earwigs_, and other noxious Animals getting in.

[w] The several Sorts of _Phryganea_, or _Cadews_, in their _Nympha_, or _Maggot-state_, thus house themselves; one Sort in Straws, call’d from thence _Straw-Worms_; others in two or more Sticks, laid parallel to one another, creeping at the Bottom of Brooks; others with a small Bundle of Pieces of Rushes, Duck-weed, Sticks, _&c._ glu’d together, where-with they float on the Top, and can row themselves therein about the Waters, with the Help of their Feet: Both these are call’d _Cob-bait_. Divers other Sorts there are, which the Reader _may_ see a Summary of, from Mr _Willughby_, in _Raii Method. Insect._ p. 12. together with a good, though very brief Description of the _Papilionaceous_ Fly, that comes from the _Cod-bait Cadew_. It is a notable architectonick Faculty, which all the Variety of these Animals have, to gather such Bodies as are fittest for their Purpose, and then to glue them together; some to be heavier than Water, that the Animal may remain at the Bottom, where its Food is; (for which Purpose they use Stones, together with Sticks, Rushes, _&c._) and some to be lighter than Water, to float on the Top, and gather its Food from thence. These little Houses look coarse and shew no great Artifice outwardly; but are well tunnelled, and made within with a hard tough Paste; into which the hinder Part of the Maggot is so fix’d, that it can draw its Cell after it any where, without Danger of leaving it behind; as also thrust its Body out, to reach what it wanteth; or withdraw it into its Cell, to guard it against Harms.

[x] Having mention’d the _Spider_, I shall take this Occasion, (although it be out of the Way,) to give an Instance of the Poyson of some of them. _Scaliger Exerc. 186. relates, That in ~Gascony~, his Country, there are ~Spiders~ of that virulency, that if a Man treads upon them, to crush them, their Poyson will pass through the very Soles of his Shoe._ Boyl. Subtil. of Effluv. c. 4.

Mr. _Leewenhoek_ put a _Frog_ and a _Spider_ together into a Glass, and having made the _Spider_ sting the _Frog_ divers Times, the _Frog_ dy’d in about an Hour’s Time. _Phil. Trans._ Nᵒ. 272.

In the same _Transaction_, is a curious Account of the Manner how _Spiders_ lay, and guard their eggs, _viz._ they emit them not out of the hindermost Part of the Body, but under the upper Part of her Belly, near the Hind-Legs, _&c._ Also there is an Account of the Parts from which they emit their Webs, and divers other Things worth Observation, with Cuts illustrating the Whole.

But in _Phil. Trans._ Nᵒ. 22. Dr. _Nath. Fairfax_, from _S. Redi_, and his own Observations, thinks _Spiders_ not venomous; several Persons, as well as Birds, swallowing them without Hurt: Which I my self have known in a Person of Learning, who was advis’d to take them medicinally at first, and would at any Time swallow them, affirming them to be sweet, and well tasted: And not only innocuous, but they are very salutiferous too, in some of the most stubborn Diseases, if the pleasant Story in _Mouffet_ be true; of a rich _London_ Matron, cur’d of a desperate _Tympany_, by a certain Debauchee, that hearing of her Case, and that she was given over by the Doctors, went to her, pretending to be a Physician, and confidently affirming he would cure her; which she being willing to believe, agrees with him for so much Money, one half to be paid down, the other upon Cure. Upon which he gives her a _Spider_, promising her Cure in three Days. Upon which, (not doubting but that he had poison’d her, and fearing he might be call’d to account for it,) he gets out of Town as fast as he could. But instead of being poison’d, she soon recover’d. After some Months, the Quack gets privately to Town, when he thought the Bustle might be over; and enquiring how his Patient did, was inform’d of her Cure; and thereupon visiting her, and making an Excuse for his Absence, he receiv’d his Pay with great Applause and Thanks. _Mouff. Insect. l. 2. c. 15._

Having said so much of _Spiders_, I might here add their Flight: But of this, see _Book VIII. Chap. 4. Note (e)._

CHAP. XIV.

_Of Animals Self-Preservation._

Having thus consider’d the Food, Cloathing, and Houses of Animals; let us in this Chapter take a Glance of another excellent Provision, the wise Creator hath made for the Good of the animal World; and that is, the Methods which all Animals naturally take for their _Self-Preservation_ and _Safety_. And here it is remarkable, (as in the Cases before,) that _Man_, who is endow’d with Reason, is born without Armature, and is destitute of many Powers, which irrational Creatures have in a much higher Degree than he, by Reason he can make himself Arms to defend himself, can contrive Methods for his own Guard and Safety, can many Ways annoy his Enemy, and stave off the Harms of noxious Creatures.

But for others, who are destitute of this super-eminent Faculty; they are some Way or other provided with sufficient Guard[a], proportionate to their Place of Abode, the Dangers they are like to incur there[b]; and in a Word, to their greatest Occasions, and Need of Security. Accordingly, some are sufficiently guarded against all common Dangers, by their natural Cloathing, by their Armature of Shells, or such like hard, and impregnable Covering of their Body[c]. Others destitute of this Guard, are armed, some with Horns[d], some with sharp Quills and Prickles[e], some with Claws, some with Stings[f]; some can shift and change their Colours[g]; some can make their Escape by the Help of their Wings, and others by the Swiftness of their Feet; some can screen themselves by diving in the Waters, others by tinging and disordering the Waters[h], can make their Escape; and some can guard their Bodies, even in the very Flames, by the Ejection of the Juice of their Bodies[i]; and some by their accurate Smell, Sight or Hearing, can foresee Dangers[k]; others by their natural Craft, can prevent or escape them[l]; others by their Uncouth Noise[m]; by the horrid Aspect, and ugly Gesticulations of their Body[n]; and some even by the Power of their Excrements, and their Stink[o], can annoy their Enemy, and secure themselves; and against some[p], the divine Providence it self hath provided a Guard.

By such Shifts and Means as these, a sufficient Guard is ministred to every Species of Animals, in its proper respective Place; abundantly enough to secure the Species from Destruction, and to keep up that Balance, which I have formerly shew’d, is in the World among every, and all the Species of Animals; but yet not enough to secure Individuals, from becoming a Prey to Man, or to other Creatures, as their Necessities of Life require. To which Purpose, the natural Sagacity and Craft of the one intrapping[q], and captivating, being in some Measure equivalent to that of the other in evading, is as excellent a Means for the maintaining the one, as preserving the other; and if well consider’d, argues the Contrivance of the infinitely wise Creator and Preserver of the World.

FOOTNOTES:

[a] _Callent in hoc cuncta animalia, sciuntque non sua modò commoda, verum & hostium adversa; nôrunt sua cela, nôrunt occasiones, partesque dissidentium imbellis. In ventre mollis est tenuisque cutis Crocodilo: ideoque se, ut territi, mergent Delphini, subcuntesque alvum illâ secant spinâ._ Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 25.

[b] _Omnibus aptum est Corpus Animæ moribus & facultatibus: Equo fortibus ungulis & juba est ornatum (etenim velox & superbum & generosum est animal.) Leoni autem, utpose animoso & feroci, dentibus & unguibus validum. Ita autem & Tauro & Apro; illi enim Cornua, huic exerti Dentes.—— Cervo autem & Lepori (timida enim animalia) velox corpus, sed inerme. Timidis enim velocitas, arma audacibus conveniebant——Homini autem (sapiens enim est——) manus dedit, instrumentum ad omnes artes necessarium, paci non minùs quàm bello idoneum. Non igitur indiguit Cornu sibi innato cùm meliora Cornibus arma manibus, quandocunque volet, possit accipere: Etenim Ensis & Hasta majora sunt Arma, & ad incidendum promptiora.——Neque Cornu, neque Ungulæ quicquam nisi cominùs agere possunt; Hominum verò arma eminùs juxtà ac cominùs agunt: telum quidem & sagitta magis quàm cornua.——Non igitur est nudus, neque inermis.——sed ipsi est Thorax ferreus, quandocunque libet, omnibus Coriis difficilius sauciatu organum.——Nec Thorax solùm sed & Domus, & Murus, & Turris, ~&c.~_ Galen. de Us. Part. l. 1. c. 2.

[c] Shells deserve a Place in this Survey, upon the Account of their great Variety; the curious and uncouth Make of some, and the beautiful Colours, and pretty Ornaments of others; but it would be endless to descend to Particulars. Omitting others, I shall therefore only take Notice of the _Tortoiseshell_, by Reason a great deal of Dexterity appears, even in the Simplicity of that Animal’s Skeleton. For, besides that the Shell is a stout Guard to the Body, and affords a safe Retreat to the Head, Legs and Tail, which it withdraws within the Shell upon any Danger; besides this, I say, the Shell supplieth the Place of all the Bones in the Body, except those of the extreme Parts, the Head and Neck, and the four Legs and Tail. So that at first Sight, it is somewhat surprizing to see a compleat Skeleton consisting of so small a Number of Bones, and they abundantly sufficient for the Creature’s Use.

[d]

_Dente timentur Apri: defendunt cornua Tauros:_ _Imbelles Dame quid nisi præda sumus!_

Martial. l. 13. Epigr. 94.

[e] The _Hedgehog_ being an helpless, slow, patient Animal, is accordingly guarded with Prickles, and a Power of rolling it self up in them. _Clavis terebrari sibi pedes, & discindi viscera patientissimè ferebat, omnes cultri ictus sine gemitu plusquam Spartanâ nobilitate concoquens._ Borrichius in Blas. de Echino. _Panniculum carnosum amplexabatur Musculus panè circularis, admirandæ fabricæ, lacinius suas ad pedes, caudam, caput, variè exporrigens, cujus minsterio Echinus se ad arbitrium in orbem contrahit._ Act. Dan. in Blasio.

_Iste licèt digitos restudine pungat acutâ,_ _Cortice deposito mollis Echinus erit._

Mart. l. 13. Epig. 86.

[f] The _Sting_ of a _Wasp_, or _Bee_, &c. is so pretty a Piece of Work, that it is worth taking Notice of, so far as I have not found others to have spoken of it. Others have observ’d the Sting to be an hollow Tube, with a Bag of sharp penetrating Juices, (its Poison,) joined to the End of it, within the Body of the _Wasp_, which is, in Stinging, injected into the Flesh through the Tube. But there are besides this, two small, sharp, bearded Spears, lying within this Tube or Sting, as in a Sheath. In a _Wasp_’s Sting, I counted eight Beards on the Side of each Spear, somewhat like the Beards of Fish-hooks. These Spears in the Sting, or Sheath, lie one with its Point a little before that of the other; as is represented in _Fig. 21._ to be ready, (I conceive,) to be first darted into the Flesh; which being once fix’d, by Means of its foremost Beard, the other then strikes in too, and so they alternately pierce deeper and deeper, their Beards taking more and more hold in the Flesh; after which the Sheath or Sting follows, to convey the Poison into the Wound. Which, that it may pierce the Better, it is drawn into a Point, with a small Slit a little below that Point, for the two Spears to come out at. By Means of this pretty Mechanism in the Sting, it is, that the Sting when out of the Body, and parted from it, is able to pierce and sting us: And by Means of the Beards being lodged deep in the Flesh, it comes to pass that _Bees_ leave their Stings behind them, when they are disturbed before they have Time to withdraw their Spears into their Scabbard. In _Fig. 21._ is represented the two Spears as they lie in the Sting. In _Fig. 22._ the two Spears are represented when squeez’d out of the Sting, or the Scabbard; in which Latter, _Fig. A c b_, is the Sting, _c d_, and _b e_, the two bearded Spears thrust out.

[g] The _Camelion_ is sufficiently fam’d on this Account. Besides which, _Pliny_ tells us of a Beast as big as an _Ox_, called the _Tarandus_, that when he pleaseth, assumes the Colour of an _Ass_, and _Colorem omnium fruticum, arborum, florum, locorumgue reddit, in quibus latet metuens, ideoque rarò capitur._ Plin. l. 8. c. 34.

How true this is, there may be some Reason to doubt; but if any Truth be in the Story, it may be from the Animal’s chusing such Company, or Places, as are agreeable to its Colour: As I have seen in divers _Caterpillars_, and other Insects, who I believe were not able to change their Colour, from one Colour to another; yet I have constantly observ’d, do fix themselves to such Things as are of the same Colour; by which Means they dodge the Spectator’s Eye. Thus the _Caterpillar_ that feeds on _Elder_, I have more than once seen, so cunningly adhering to the small Branches of the same Colour, that it might be easily mistaken for a small Stick, even by a careful View. So a large green _Caterpillar_, that feeds on _Buckthorn_, and divers others. To which I may add the prodigious Sagacity of the _Ichneumon Flies_, that make the _Kermes_, (for of that Tribe all the _Kermes_ I ever saw was;) how artificially they not only inclose their Eggs within that gummy Skin, or Shell; but also so well humour the Colour of the Wood they adhere to, by various Streaks and Colours, that it is not easie to distinguish them from the Wood it self.

[h] _Contra metum & vim, suis se armis quæque defendit. Cornibus Tauri, Apri dentibus, morsu Leones, aliæ fugâ se, aliæ occultatione tutantur: atramenti effusione Sepia, torpore Topedines. Multa etiam insectantes odoris intolerabili, fœditate depellunt._ Cic. de Nat. Deor. l. 2. c. 50.

[i] A Knight call’d _Corvini_ at _Rome_, cast a _Salamander_ into the Fire, which presently swell’d, and then vomited Store of thick slimy Matter, which put out the Coals; to which the _Salamander_ presently retir’d, putting them out again in the same Manner, as soon as they re-kindled, and by this Means sav’d it self from the Force of the Fire for the Space of two Hours: After which it liv’d nine Months. _Vid._ _Philos. Transact._ Nᵒ. 21. in _Lowth. Abridg. Vol. 2._ p. 816.

[k] _Pliny_ gives an Instance in each. _L. 10. c. 69._ _Aqullæ clariùs cernunt ~[quàm homines;]~ Vultures sagaciùs odorantur: liquidiùs audiunt Talpæ obrutæ terrâ, tam denso atque surdo naturæ elemento._

[l] The _Doubling_ of the _Hare_, before she goes to Form, thereby to dodge and deceive the _Dogs_, although a vulgar Observation, is a notable Instinct for an Animal, less fam’d for Cunning than the _Fox_, and some others.

[m] It is natural for many Quadrupeds, Birds and Serpents, not only to put on a torvous angry Aspect, when in _Danger_; but also to snarl, hiss, or by some other Noise deter their Adversary.

[n] The _Iynx_, or _Wryneck_, although a Bird of very beautiful Feathers, and consequently far enough off from being any way terrible; yet being in Danger, hath such odd Contortions of its Neck, and Motions of its Head, that I remember have scar’d me, when I was a Boy, from taking their Nests, or touching the Bird; daring no more to venture my Hand into their Holes, than if a Serpent had lodged in it.

[o] _Bonasus tuetur se calcibus & stercore, quòd ab se quaternis passibus ~[trium jugerum longitudine. _Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 15._] ~ejaculatur, quod sæpe comburit adeò ut deglabrentur canes._ Ray’s Synops. Quadr. p. 71.

_Camelus Peruvianus Clama dictus neminem offendit, sed miro admodum ingenio se ab iliatâ vindicat injuriâ, nimirum vomitæ vel cibi, vel humoris in vexantem retrarsum cum impetu ejaculato, ob protensam colli longitudinem._ Id. ib. p. 146.

_Tzquiepatl_ (Anglicè _Squnck_ Præf. and one that I saw they call’d a _Stonck_.) _Cùm quis eam insectatur, fundit cum ventris crepitu halitum fœtidissimum: quin ipsa tota teterrimum exhalat odorem, & urina stercusque est fœtidissimum, atque adeò pestilens, ut nihil sit reperire in nostro orbe, cui in hâc re possit comparari: quo fit, ut in periculo constituta, urinam & fæces ad 8 pluriumve passuum intervallum ejiciat, hoc modo se ab omnibus vindicans injuriit, ac vestes inficiens maculis luteis indelibilibus, & nunquam satis perspirante odore: aliàs innoxium Animal eduleque, hæc solâ ratione horrendissimum._ Id. ib. p. 182.

_Si Accipiter Ardeam in sublimi molestat, stercore immisso in pennas ejus, eas putrescere facit: utì Solinus scribis de Bonaso, ~&c.~ Ita & Lupus urinam spargit in persequentem._ Ol. Mag. Hist. l. 19. c. 14.

[p] Thus against the _Crocodile_, which can catch its Prey only before it, not on one Side. So the _Shark_, of which take my often-commended Friend Sir _Hans Sloane_’s Observation: _It hath this particular to it, with some others of its own Tribe; that the Mouth is in its under Part, so that it must turn the Belly upwards to Prey. And was it not for that Time it is in turning, in which the pursu’d Fishes escape, there would be nothing that could avoid it; for it is very quick in Swimming, and hath a vast Strength, with the largest Swallow of any Fish, and is very devouring._ Sloane’s _Voyage to_ Jamaica, p. 23.

[q] See _Chap. 11. Note (iii)._

CHAP. XV.

_Of the Generation of Animals._

There remains now only one Thing more of the ten Things in common to Animals, and that is what relates to their Generation[a], and Conservation of their Species[b], by that Means. It would not be seemly to advance far in this admirable Work of God; neither shall I at all insist upon that of Man for the same Reason. And as for the Irrationals[c], I shall confine my self to these five Matters.

I. Their natural Sagacity in chusing the fittest Places to reposite their Eggs and Young.

II. The fittest Times and Seasons they make use of for their Generation.

III. The due and stated Number of their Young.

IV. Their Diligence and earnest Concern in their Breeding up.

V. Their Faculty of Feeding them, and their Art and Sagacity exerted therein.

I. The natural Sagacity of irrational Animals, in chusing the fittest Places to reposite their Eggs and Young. Of this I have given larger Hints already than I needed to have done, when I spake of the Architecture[d] of Animals, intending then to have wholly pass’d by this Business of Generation; I shall therefore now only superadd a few other Instances, the more to illustrate this Matter.

It hath been already shewn, and will hereafter[e] farther appear, that the Places in which the several Species of Animals lay up their Eggs, and Young, are the best for that Purpose; Waters[f] for one; Flesh for another; Holes in Wood[g], Earth, or Stone[h], for others; and Nests for others; and we shall find, that so ardent is the Propensity of all Animals, even of the meanest Insects, to get a fit Place for the Propagation of their Young; that, as will hereafter appear, there is scarce any Thing that escapeth the Inquest of those little subtile Creatures. But besides all this, there are two or three Things more observable, which plainly argue the Instinct of some superior rational Being. As,

1. The compleat and neat Order which many Creatures observe in laying up their Seed, or Eggs, in proper Repositories: Of which I shall speak in another Place[i].

2. The suitable Apparatus in every Creature’s Body, for the laying-up its Eggs, Seed, or Young, in their proper Place. It would be as endless as needless to name all Particulars, and therefore an Instance or two of the Insect-Tribe may serve for a Specimen in this Place, till I come to other Particulars. Thus Insects, who have neither Feet adapted to scratch, nor Noses to dig, nor can make artificial Nests to lay up their Young; yet what abundant Amends is there made them, in the Power they have either to extend the _Abdomen_[k], and thereby reach the commodious Places they could not otherwise come at; or else they have some aculeous Part or Instrument to terebrate, and make Way for their Eggs into the Root[l], Trunk[m], Fruit[n], Leaves[o], and the tender Buds of Vegetables[p], or some other such curious and secure Method they are never destitute of. To which we may add,

3. The natural Poison[q], (or what can I call it?) which many or most of the Creatures, last intended, have, to cause the Germination of such Balls, Cases, and other commodious Repositories, as are an admirable Lodgment to the Eggs and Young; that particularly in the Incubation and Hatching the Young, and then afford them sufficient Food and Nourishment in all their _Nympha-State_, in which they need Food; and are afterwards commodious Houses and Beds for them in their _Aurelia-State_, till they are able to break Prison, fly abroad, and shift for themselves. But this shall be taken Notice of, when I come to treat of Insects.

II. As irrational Animals chuse the fittest Place, so also the fittest Times and Seasons for their Generation. Some indeed are indifferent to all Times, but others make use of peculiar Seasons[r]. Those, for Instance, whose Provisions are ready at all Seasons, or who are under the Tuition of Man, produce their Young without any great regard to Heat or Cold, Wet or Dry, Summer or Winter. But others, whose Provisions are peculiar, and only to be met with at certain Seasons of the Year, or who, by their Migration and Change of Place, are tied up to certain Seasons; these (as if endowed with a natural Care and Foresight of what shall happen) do accordingly lay, hatch and nurse up their Young in the most proper Seasons of all the Year for their Purpose; as in Spring, or Summer, the Times of Plenty of Provisions, the Times of Warmth for Incubation, and the most proper Seasons to breed up their Young, till they are able to shift for themselves, and can range about for Food, and seek Places of Retreat and Safety, by flying long Flights as well as their Progenitors, and passing into far distant Regions, which (when others fail) afford those helpless Creatures the Necessaries of Life.

III. To the special Seasons, I may add the peculiar Number of Young produced by the irrational Creatures. Of which I have already taken some Notice, when I spake of the Balance of Animals[s]. Now, if there was not a great deal more than Chance in this Matter, even a wise Government of the Creation, it could never happen that every Species of Animals should be tied up to a certain Rate and Proportion of its Increase; the most useful would not be the most fruitful, and the most pernicious produce the fewest Young, as I have observed it commonly is. Neither would every Species produce such a certain Rote as it is only able to breed up: But all would be in a confused, huddled State. Instead of which, on the contrary, we find every Thing in compleat Order; the Balance of _Genera_, Species and Individuals always proportionate and even; the Balance of Sexes the same; most Creatures tied up to their due Stint and Number of Young, without their own Power and Choice, and others (particularly of the winged[t] Kind) producing their due Number at their Choice and Pleasure; some large Numbers, but not more than they can cover, feed and foster; others fewer, but as many as they can well nurse and breed up. Which minds me,

IV. Of the Diligence and earnest Concern which irrational Animals have of the Production and Breeding up their Young. And here I have already taken Notice of their Στοργὴ, or natural Affection, and with what Zeal they feed and defend, their Young. To which may be added these two Things.

1. The wonderful Instinct of Incubation. It is utterly impossible, that ever unthinking, untaught Animals should take to that only Method of hatching their Young, was it not implanted in their Nature by the infinitely wise Creator. But so ardent is their Desire, so unwearied is their Patience when they are ingaged in that Business, that they will abide their Nests for several Weeks, deny themselves the Pleasures, and even the Necessaries of Life; some of them even starving themselves almost, rather than hazard their Eggs, to get Food, and others either performing the Office by Turns[u], or else the one kindly seeking out, and carrying Food to the other[w], engaged in the office of Incubation. But of these Matters in a more proper Place[x].

2. When the young ones are produced, not only with what Care do they feed and nurse them, but with what surprizing Courage do all or most Creatures defend them! It is somewhat strange to see timid Creatures[y], who at other Times are cowardly, to be full of Courage, and undaunted at that Time; to see them furiously and boldly encounter their Enemy, instead of flying from him, and expose themselves to every Danger, rather than hazard and forsake their Young.

With this earnest Concern of the irrational Animals for their Young, we may join in the

V. And last Place, Their Faculty and Sagacity of feeding them. About which I shall take notice of three Things.

1. The Faculty of suckling the Young, is an excellent Provision the Creator hath made for those helpless Creatures. And here the Agreeableness and Suitableness of that Food to young Creatures, deserves particular Observation, as also their Delight in it, and Desire and Endeavours after it, even as soon as born[z], together with the Willingness of all, even the most savage and fierce Animals, to part with it, and to administer it to their Young, yea, to teach and institute them in the Art of taking it.

And lastly, to name no more, the curious _Apparatus_ which is made for this Service in the divers Species of Animals, by a due Number of Breasts, proportionable to the Occasions of each Animal, by curious Glands in those Breasts, to separate that nutritive Juice, the Milk, by Arteries and Veins to convey it to them, and proper Rivulets and Channels to convey it from them, with Dugs and Nipples, placed in the most convenient Part of the Body[aa] of each Animal, to administer it to their Young; all these Things, I say, do manifestly proclaim the Care and Wisdom of the great Creator.

2. As for such Animals as do in another manner breed up their Young, by finding out Food, and putting it into their Mouth, the Provision made in them for this Service, to strike, catch, to pouch and convey their Prey and Food to their Young[bb], is very considerable. And so is also their Sagacity in equally distributing it among them, that among many, all shall be duly, equally, and in good Order, fed.

3. There is yet another Instinct remaining, of such Animals as can neither administer Suck to their Young, neither lay them in Places affording Food, nor can convey and bring them Food, but do with their Eggs, lay up Provisions for their future Young. Somewhat of this is reported of some Birds[cc]; but I have my self with Pleasure, frequently seen some of the Species of Insects to carry ample Provisions into their dry and barren Cells, where they have seal’d them carefully and cautiously up with their Eggs, partly, ’tis like, for Incubation sake, and partly as an easy Bed to lodge their Young; but chiefly for future Provision for their Young, in their _Nympha-State_, when they stand in need of Food[dd].

FOOTNOTES:

[a] _Spontaneous Generation_, is a Doctrine so generally exploded, that I shall not undertake the Disproof of it. It is so evident, that all Animals, yea, Vegetables too, owe their Production to Parent-Animals and Vegetables; that I have often admir’d at the Sloath and Prejudices of the ancient Philosophers, in so easily taking upon Trust the _Aristotelian_, or rather, the _Ægyptian_ Doctrine of _equivocal Generation_; that when they saw _Flies_, _Frogs_ and _Lice_, for Instance, to be Male and Female, and accordingly to ingender, lay Eggs, _&c._ they could ever imagine any of these Creatures should be spontaneously produc’d, especially in so romantick a Manner, as in the Clouds: as they particularly thought _Frogs_ were, and that they dropp’d down in Showers of Rain. For an Answer to this Case of _Frogs_, I shall refer to a Relation of my own, which my late most ingenious, and learned Friend, the great Mr. _Ray_, requested of me, and was pleas’d to publish in his last Edition of his _Wisdom of God manifested_, &c. _p. 365_.

But some will yet assert the Raining of _Frogs_; among which the curious Dr. _Plot_ is somewhat of this Opinion; telling us of _Frogs_ found on the Leads of the Lord _Aston_’s Gatehouse, at _Tixal_ in _Staffordshire_, which he thinks by some such Means came there; as also on the Bowling-Green, frequently after a Shower of Rain. _Plot_’s _Hist. Staff._ c. 1. §. 47.

But we may take a Judgment of this, and an Hundred such like Reports, to be met with in considerable Authors, from other the like Reports that have been better inquir’d into. In a Scarcity in _Silesia_, a mighty Rumour was spread of its _raining Millet-Seed_; but the Matter being inquir’d into, ’twas found to be only the Seeds of the _Ivy-leaved Speedwell_, or _small Henbit_, growing in the Place in great Plenty. _Eph. Germ. An. 3. Obs. 40._ So in the _Archipelago_, it was thought Ashes were rain’d, Ships being cover’d therewith at a hundred Leagues Distance; but in all Probability, it was from an Eruption of _Vesuvius_, that then happen’d. About _Warminster_ in _Wilts_, ’twas reported it _rain’d Wheat_; but a curious Observer, Mr. _Cole_, found it to be only _Ivy-Berries_, blown thither in a considerable Quantity by a Tempest. In the Year 1696, at _Cranstead_ near _Wrotham_ in _Kent_, a Pasture-Field was over-spread with little young _Whitings_, suppos’d to fall from the Clouds, in a Tempest of Thunder and Rain; but doubtless they were brought thither with Waters from the Sea by the Tempest. See the before-commended Mr. _Lowth_. _Abridg. Philos. Trans. Vol. 2._ p. 143, 144.

Neither needeth it seem strange, that _Ashes_, _Ivy-Berries_, small _Fishes_, or young _Frogs_, (which yet may have some other Conveyance,) should be thus transported by tempestuous Winds, considering to what Distance, and in what Quantities the Sea-Waters were carry’d by the _Great-Storm_, _Nov. 26. 1703_, of which an ingenious Friend sent me these Accounts from _Lewes_ in _Sussex_, viz. _That a Physician travelling soon after the Storm, to ~Tisehurst~, twenty Miles from the Sea, as he rode along pluck’d some Tops of Hedges, and chewing them, found them Salt: That some ~Grapes~ hanging on the Vines at ~Lewes~ were so too. That Mr. ~Williamson~ Rector of ~Ripe~, found the Twigs in his Gardens Salt the ~Monday~ after the Storm; and others observ’d the same a Week after. That the Grass of the Downs about ~Lewes~, was so Salt, that the Sheep would not feed till Hunger compell’d them: And that the ~Miller~ of ~Berwick~, (three Miles from the Sea,) attempting with his Man to secure his Mill, were so wash’d with Flashes of Sea-Water, like the Breakings of Waves against the Rocks, that they were almost strangled therewith, and forced to give over their Attempt._

I call’d this Doctrine of _equivocal Generation_, an _Ægyptian Doctrine_; because probably it had its Rise in _Ægypt_, to salve the Hypothesis, of the Production of Men, and other Animals, out of the Earth, by the Help of the Sun’s Heat. To prove which, the _Ægyptians_, (as _Diod. Sicul._ saith,) _produce this Observation, That about ~Thebes~, when the Earth is moistened by the ~Nile~, by the Intense Heat of the Sun, an innumerable Number of ~Mice~ do spring out._ From whence he infers, That all Kinds of Animals, might as well at first come likewise out of the Earth. And from these the learned Bishop _Stillingfleet_ thinks other Writers, as _Ovid_, _Mela_, _Pliny_, &c. have, without examining its Truth, taken up the same Hypothesis. _V._ _Stillingfleet_’s _Orig. Sacr._ Part 2. Book 1. Chap. 1.

The before-commended Dr. _Harris_, from the Observations of Dr. _Harvey_, Sr. _Malpighi_, Dr. _de Graaf_, and Mr. _Leewenhoeck_, infers three Things concerning _Generation_ as highly probable. _1. That Animals are ~ex Animalculo~. 2. That the Animalcules are originally ~in femine Marium, & non in Fœminis~. 3. That they can never come forward, or be formed into Animals of the respective Kind, without the ~Ova in Fœminis~._ His Proofs and Illustrations, see under the Word _Generation_, in his _Lex. Techn. Vol. 2._

[b] _At certè Natura, si fieri potuisset, maximè optasset suum opificium esse immortale: quod cùm per materiam non liceret (nam quod——ex carne est compositum, incorruptibile esse non potest) subsidium quod potuit ipsi ad immortalitatem est sacricata, sapientis cujusdam urbis conditoris exemplo, ~&c.~ Nam mirabilem quondam rationem invenit, quomodo in demortui animalis locum, novum aliud sufficiat._ Galen. de Usu. Part. l. 14. c. 22.

[c] _Animantia Bruta Obstetricibus non indigent in edendo Partu, cùm inditâ Naturæ vi Umbilicus seipsum occludat._ Ol. Rudbeck in Blasii Anat. Felis.

[d] _Chap. 13._

[e] _Book VIII. Chap. 6._

[f] The _Ephemeron_, as it is an unusual and special Instance of the Brevity of Life; so I take to be a wonderful Instance of the special Care and Providence of God, in the Conservation of the Species of that Animal. For, 1. As an Animal, whose Life is determin’d in about five or six Hours Time, (_viz._ from about six in the Evening, till about eleven a Clock at Night,) needs no Food; so neither doth the _Ephemeron_ eat, after it is become a _Fly_. 2. As to its Generation; in those five Hours of its Life, it performs that, and all other necessary Offices of Life: For in the Beginning of its Life, it sheds its Coat; and that being done, and the poor little Animal thereby render’d light and agile, it spends the rest of its short Time in striking over the Waters, and at the same Time the Female droppeth her Egg on the Waters, and the Male his Sperm on them to impregnate them. These Eggs are spread about by the Waters; descend to the Bottom by their own Gravity; and are hatch’d by the Warmth of the Sun, into little Worms, which make themselves Cases in the Clay, and feed on the same without any Need of parental Care. _Vid._ _Ephem. vita_, translated by Dr. _Tyson_ from _Swammerdam_. See also _Book VIII. Chap. 6. Note (r)._

[g] See _Chap. 13. Note (c)_, and _Book VIII. Chap. 6._

[h] The _Worms_ in _Chap. 11. Note (x)_, breed in the Holes they gnaw in Stone, as manifest from their Eggs found therein.

[i] See _Book VIII. Chap. 6. Note (q)._

[k] Many, if not most Flies, especially those of the _Flesh-Fly_-kind, have a Faculty of extending their _Uropygia_, and thereby are enabled to thrust their Eggs into convenient Holes, and Receptacles for their Young, in Flesh, and whatever else they Fly-blow. But none more remarkable than the _Horse-Fly_, called by _Pennius_, in _Mouffet_, (p. 62.) Σκολιοῦρος, i.e. _Curvicauda_, and the _Whame_ or _Burrel-Fly_, which is vexatious to Horses in Summer, not by stinging them, but only by their bombylious Noise, or tickling them in sticking their Nits, or Eggs on the Hair; which they do in a very dexterous Manner, by thrusting out their _Uropygia_, bending them up, and by gentle, slight Touches, sticking the Eggs to the Hair of the Legs, Shoulders, and Necks, commonly of Horses; so that Horses which go abroad, and are seldom dressed, are somewhat discoloured by the numerous Nits adhering to their Hair.

Having mentioned so much of the Generation of this Insect, although it be a little out of the Way, I hope I shall be excused for taking Notice of the long-tailed Maggot, which is the Product of these Nits or Eggs, called by Dr. _Plot_, _Eruca glabra_, [or rather _Eula Scabra_, it should be] _caudata aquatico-arborea_, it being found by him in the Water of an hollow Tree, but I have found it in Ditches, Saw-Pits, Holes of Water in the High-way, and such-like Places where the Waters are most still and foul. This Maggot I mention, as being a singular and remarkable Work of God, not so much for its being so utterly unlike as it is to its Parent _Bee_-like-Fly, as for the wise Provision made for it by its long Tail; which is so joynted at certain Distances from the Body, as that it can be withdrawn, or sheathed, one Part within another, to what Length the Maggot pleaseth, so as to enable it to reach the Bottom of very shallow, or deeper Waters, as it hath Occasion, for the gathering of Food. At the end of this tapering is a Ramification of _Fibrillæ_, or small Hairs representing, when spread, a Star; with the help of which, spread out on the top of the Waters, it is enabled to hang making by that means a small Depression or Concavity on the Surface of the Water. In the midst of this Star, I imagine the Maggot takes in Air, there being a Perforation, which with a Microscope I could perceive to be open, and by the Star to be guarded against the Incursion of the Water.

[l] The Excrescences on the Root of _Cabbages_, _Turneps_, and divers other Plants, have always a Maggot in them; but what the Animal is that thus makes its way to the Root under Ground, whether _Ichneumon_, _Phalæna_, _Scarab_, or _Scolopendra_, I could never discover, being not able to bring them to any thing in Boxes.

[m] I presume they are only of the _Ichneumon-Fly-kind_, that have their Generation in the Trunks of Vegetables. In _Malpighi de Gallis_, _Fig. 61._ is a good Cut of the gouty Excrescences, or rather Tumours of the _Briar-stalk_: From which proceeds a small black _Ichneumon-Fly_, with red _Legs_; black, smooth jointed _Antennæ_; pretty large _Thorax_; and short, round _Belly_, of the Shape of an Heart. It leapeth as a _Flea_. The _Male_, (as in other Insects,) is lesser than the _Female_, and very venereous, in spite of Danger, getting upon the Female, whom they beat and tickle with their Breeches and Horns, to excite them to a _Coït_.

Another Example of the Generation in the Trunks of Vegetables, shall be from the Papers of my often-commended Friend Mr. _Ray_, which are in my Hands, and that is an Observation of the ingenious Dr. _Nath. Wood_: _I have_ (said he) _lately observed many Eggs in the common Rush. One sort are little transparent Eggs, in Shape somewhat like a Pear, or Retort, lying within the Skin, upon, or in the ~Medulla~, just against a brownish Spot on the out-side of the Rush; which is apparently the Creatrix of the Wound made by the Fly, when she puts her Eggs there. Another Kind is much longer, and not so transparent, of a long oval, or rather cylindrical Form; six, eight, or more, lie commonly together, across the Rush, parallel to each other, like the Teeth of a Comb, and are as long as the Breadth of the Rush._ Letter from _Kilkenny_ in _Ireland_, Apr. 28. 1697.

[n] See _Book VIII. Chap. 6. Note (d)._

[o] I have in _Chap. 13. Note (u)_, and _Book VIII. Chap. 6. Note (c), (f)_, taken Notice of the Nidification and Generation of some Insects on the Leaves of Vegetables, and shall therefore, for the Illustration of this Place, chuse an uncommon Example out of the _Scarab-kind_ (the Generation of which Tribe hath not been as yet mentioned) and that is of a small _Scarab_ bred in the very Tips of _Elm-Leaves_. These Leaves, in Summer, may be observed to be, many of them, dry and dead, as also turgid; in which lieth a dirty, whitish, rough Maggot. From which proceeds a _Beetle_ of the smallest kind, of a light, _Weesle_ Colour, that leapeth like a _Grashopper_, although its Legs are but short. Its Eyes are blackish, _Elytra_ thin, and prettily furrowed, with many Concavities in them; small club-headed _Antennæ_, and a long _Rostrum_ like a _Proboscis_.

The same, or much like this, I have met with on Tips of _Oaken_ and _Holly-Leaves_. How the _Scarab_ lays its Eggs in the Leaf, whether by terebrating the Leaf, or whether the _Maggot_, when hatched, doth it, I could never see. But with great Dexterity, it makes its Way between the upper and under Membranes of the Leaf feeding upon the parenchymous Part thereof. Its Head is slenderer and sharper than most of _Maggots_, as if made on purpose for this Work; but yet I have often wondered at their Artifice in so nicely separating the Membranes of the _Elm-Leaf_, without breaking them, and endangering their own tumbling out of ’em, considering how thin and very tender the Skins of that Leaf (particularly) are.

[p] See _Book VIII. Chap. 6. Note (z)._

[q] See _Book VIII. Chap. 6._ to _Note (bb)_, &c.

[r] Πολλὰ δὲ καὶ πρὸς τὰς ἐκτροφὰς τῶν τέκνων στοχαζέμενα, ποιοῦνται τὸν συνδυασμὸν ἐν τῇ ἀπαρτιζούσῃ ὥρᾳ. Arist. Hist. An. l. 5. c. 8 ubi plura.

[s] _Chap. 10._

[t] Mr. _Ray_ alledges good Reasons to conclude, that although Birds have not an exact Power of numbering, yet, that they have of distinguishing many from few, and knowing when they come near to a certain Number; and that they have it in their Power to lay many or few Eggs. All which he manifesteth from _Hens_, and other domestick Fowls, laying many more Eggs when they are withdrawn, than when not. Which holds in wild as well as domestick Birds, as appears from Dr. _Lister_’s Experiment in withdrawing a _Swallow_’s Eggs, which by that Means laid nineteen Eggs successively before she gave over. _V._ _~Ray~’s Wisdom of God_, &c. p. 137.

[u] _Palumbes incubat fœmina post meridiana in matutinum, cætero mas. Columbæ incubant ambo, interdiu Mas, noctu Fœmina. Plin._ Nat. Hist. l. 10. c. 58.

[w] Of the common _Crow_, Mr. _Willughby_ saith, _The Females only sit, and that diligently, the Males in the mean time bring them Victuals, as_ Aristotle _saith. In most other Birds, which pair together, the Male and Female sit by Turns._ Ornithol. l. 2. §. 1. c. 2. §. 2. And I have observed the Female-Crows to be much fatter than the Males, in the Time of Incubation, by Reason the Male, out of his conjugal Affection, almost starves himself, to supply the Female with Plenty.

[x] See _Book VII. Chap. 4._

[y] _Volucribus Natura novam quandam, Pullos educandi, rationem excogitavit: ipsis enim præcipuum quendam amorem in ea quæ procrearent, ingeneravit, quo impulsu bellum pro pullis cum ferocibus animalibus, quæ ante declinârunt, intrepide suscipiunt, victúmque ipsis convenientem suppeditant._ Galen. de Us. Part. l. 14. c. 4.

[z] _In iis animanatibus quæ lacte aluntur, omnis ferè cibus matrum lactescere incipit; eaque, quæ paulo antè nata sunt, sine magistro, duce naturâ, mammas appetunt, earumque ubertate saturantur. Atque ut intelligamus nihil horum esse fortutitum, & hæc omnia esse provida, solertisque naturæ, quæ multiplices fœtus procreant, ut Sues, ut Canes, his Mammarum data est multitudo; quas easdam paucas habent eæ bestiæ, quæ pauca gignunt._ Cic. de Nat. Deor. l. 2. c. 51. _Consule quoque_ Galen de Us. Part. l. 4. c. 4. _&_ l. 15. c. 7.

[aa] _Animalia solidipeda, & ruminantia, vel cornigera, inter femora Mammas habent, quorum Fœtus statim à partu pedibus insistunt, quòd matres inter lactandum non decumbant, ut Equa, Asina, ~&c.~ Animalia digitata & multipara in medio ventre, scil. spatio ab inguine ad pectus (in Cuniculo usque ad jugulum) duplicem mammarum seriem fortita sunt, quæ omnia decumbentia ubera fœtibus admovent, ut Ursa, Leæna, ~&c.~ Si verò hæc in solo inguine Mammas gererent, propria cura inter decumbendum fœtus accessum ad mammas nonnihil præpedirent. Mulieribus Mammæ binæ sunt, ut & Papillæ, nimirum ut latus lateri conformitèr respondeat, & ut alternatim infans à latere in latus inter sugendum tranferatur, ne corpus ejus uni lateri nimis assuescens quoquo modo incurvetur. Simia, homo Sylvestris, ~&c.~_ Blas. Anat. Animal. Par. 1. Cap. 6. _de Cane ex Whartono_. See here what _Pliny_ hath also, L. 11. _Cap. 40._

In the _Elephant_, the Nipples are near the Breast, by Reason the old one is forced to suck her self, and by the help of her Trunk conveys the Milk into the Mouth of her Young. _Vid._ _Phil. Trans._ No. 336.

[bb] For an Exemplification, I might name many Animals, particularly Birds, whole Parts are compleatly suited to this Service. They are Characteristicks of rapacious Birds, to have aduncous Bills and Talons to hold and tear, and strong brawny Thighs to strike and carry their Prey, as well as a sharp piercing Sight to spy it afar off. _Raii Synops. Method. Av._ p. 1. The _Pelecane_ also might be here named, for its prodigious Bag under its Bill and Throat, big enough to contain thirty Pints. _Id. ibid._ p. 122. And to name no more, the common _Heron_ hath its most remarkable Parts adapted to thus Service; long Legs for wading, and a long Neck answerable thereto to reach Prey, a wide, extensive Throat to pouch it; long Toes, with strong hooked Talons, (one of which is remarkably serrate on the Edge) the better to hold their Prey; a long sharp Bill to strike their Prey, and serrate towards the Point, with sharp hooked Beards standing backward, to hold their Prey fast when struck; and lastly, large, broad, concave Wings (in Appearance much too large, heavy and cumbersome for so small a Body, but) of greatest Use to enable them to carry the greater Load to their Nests at several Miles Distance; as I have seen them do from several Miles beyond me, to a large Heronry above three Miles distant from me. In which I have seen _Plaise_, and other Fish, some Inches long, lying under the high Trees in which they build; and the curious and ingenious Owner thereof, _D’Acre Barret_, Esq; hath seen a large Eel convey’d by them, notwithstanding the great Annoyance it gave them in their Flight, by its twisting this Way and that Way about their Bodies.

[cc] This is reported of the _American Ostrich_, mentioned by _Acarette_, in _Phil. Trans._ Nᵒ. 89. Of which see _Book VII. Chap. 4. Note (e)._

[dd] _Hornets_, _Wasps_, and all the Kinds of _Bees_ provide Honey; and many of the _Pseudosphecæ_, and _Ichneumon Wasps_ and _Flies_, carry _Maggots_, _Spiders_, _&c._ into their Nests; of which see above, _Note (c) Chap. 13._

CHAP. XVI.

_The Conclusion._

Thus I have, as briefly as well I could (and much more briefly than the Matters deserved) dispatched the Decad of Things I proposed in common to the sensitive Creatures. And now let us pause a little, and reflect. And upon the whole Matter, what less can be concluded than that there is a Being infinitely Wise, Potent, and Kind, who is able to contrive and make this glorious Scene of Things, which I have thus given only a Glance of? For what less than Infinite, could stock so vast a Globe with such a noble Set of Animals? All so Contrived, as to minister to one another’s Help some Way or other, and most of them serviceable to Man peculiarly, the Top of this lower World, and who was made, as it were, on purpose to observe, and survey, and set forth the Glory of the infinite _Creator_, manifested in his Works! Who! What but the Great _GOD_ could so admirably provide for the whole Animal World every Thing serviceable to it, or that can be wished for, either to conserve its Species, or to minister to the Being or Well-being of Individuals! Particularly, who could _Feed_ so spacious a World, who could please so large a Number of Palates, or suit so many Palates to so great a Variety of Food, but the infinite Conservator of the World! And who but the same great _HE_, could provide such commodious _Cloathing_ for every Animal; such proper _Houses_, _Nests_ and _Habitations_; such suitable _Armature_ and _Weapons_; such _Subtilty_, _Artifice_ and _Sagacity_, as every Creature is more or less armed and furnished with, to fence off the Injuries of the Weather, to rescue it self from Dangers, to preserve it self from the Annoyances of its Enemies; and, in a word, to conserve its Self, and its Species! What but an infinite superintending Power could so equally _balance_ the several Species of Animals, and conserve the _Numbers_ of the individuals of every Species so even, as not to over or under-people the terraqueous Globe! Who, but the infinite wise Lord of the World, could allot every Creature its most suitable _Place_ to live in, the most suitable Element to _breath_, and _move_, and _act_ in. And who but _HE_ could make so admirable a Set of Organs, as those of Respiration are, both in Land and Water-Animals! Who could contrive so curious a Set of Limbs, Joynts, Bones, Muscles, and Nerves, to give to every Animal the most commodious _Motion_ to its State and Occasions! And to name no more, what Anatomist, Mathematician, Workman, yea Angel, could contrive and make so curious, so commodious, and every way so exquisite a Set of Senses, as the _five Senses_ of Animals are; whole Organs are so dexterously contrived, so conveniently placed in the Body, so neatly adjusted, so firmly guarded, and so compleatly suited to every Occasion, that they plainly set forth the Agency of the infinite Creator and Conservator of the World.

So that here, upon a transient View of the Animal World in general only, we have such a Throng of Glories, such an enravishing Scene of Things as may excite us to admire, praise, and adore the infinitely wise, powerful, and kind _CREATOR_; to condemn all atheistical Principles; and with holy _David_, _Psalm_ xiv. 1. to conclude that he is in good earnest a _Fool_, that dares to say, _There is no God_, when we are every where surrounded with such manifest Characters, and plain Demonstrations of that infinite Being.

But in the next Book we shall still find greater Tokens, if possible, when I come to take a View of Animals in particular.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

A

SURVEY

Of the Particular

Tribes of _ANIMALS_.

In the foregoing Book, having taken a View of the Things in common to Animals, my Business in the next, will be to inspect the particular Tribes, in order to give further Manifestations of the Infinite Creator’s Wisdom, Power and Goodness towards the Animal World.

[Illustration]