CHAP. XIV.Of Animals Self-Preservation.
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 theirSelf-PreservationandSafety. And here it is remarkable, (as in the Cases before,) thatMan, 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 greatestOccasions, 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 withClaws, 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 bythe 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]; othersby 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 annoytheir 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 quà m 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 quà m 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 theTortoiseshell, 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]TheHedgehogbeing 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]TheStingof aWasp, orBee, &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 theWasp, 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 aWasp’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 inFig. 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 thatBeesleave their Stings behind them, when they are disturbed before they have Time to withdraw their Spears into their Scabbard. InFig. 21.is represented the two Spears as they lie in the Sting. InFig. 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, andb e, the two bearded Spears thrust out.[g]TheCamelionis sufficiently fam’d on this Account. Besides which,Plinytells us of a Beast as big as anOx, called theTarandus, that when he pleaseth, assumes the Colour of anAss, andColorem 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 diversCaterpillars, 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 theCaterpillarthat feeds onElder, 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 greenCaterpillar, that feeds onBuckthorn, and divers others. To which I may add the prodigious Sagacity of theIchneumon Flies, that make theKermes, (for of that Tribe all theKermesI 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’dCorviniatRome, cast aSalamanderinto the Fire, which presently swell’d, and then vomited Store of thick slimy Matter, which put out the Coals; to which theSalamanderpresently 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. inLowth. Abridg. Vol. 2.p. 816.[k]Plinygives an Instance in each.L. 10. c. 69.Aqullæ clariùs cernunt[quà m homines;]Vultures sagaciùs odorantur: liquidiùs audiunt Talpæ obrutæ terrâ, tam denso atque surdo naturæ elemento.[l]TheDoublingof theHare, before she goes to Form, thereby to dodge and deceive theDogs, although a vulgar Observation, is a notable Instinct for an Animal, less fam’d for Cunning than theFox, and some others.[m]It is natural for many Quadrupeds, Birds and Serpents, not only to put on a torvous angry Aspect, when inDanger; but also to snarl, hiss, or by some other Noise deter their Adversary.[n]TheIynx, orWryneck, 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(AnglicèSqunckPræf. and one that I saw they call’d aStonck.)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 theCrocodile, which can catch its Prey only before it, not on one Side. So theShark, of which take my often-commended Friend SirHans 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’sVoyage toJamaica, p. 23.[q]SeeChap. 11. Note (iii).
[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.
[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 quà m 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 quà m 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.
[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 quà m 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 quà m 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 theTortoiseshell, 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.
[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 theTortoiseshell, 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.
[d]
Dente timentur Apri: defendunt cornua Tauros:Imbelles Dame quid nisi præda sumus!Martial. l. 13. Epigr. 94.
Dente timentur Apri: defendunt cornua Tauros:Imbelles Dame quid nisi præda sumus!Martial. l. 13. Epigr. 94.
Dente timentur Apri: defendunt cornua Tauros:Imbelles Dame quid nisi præda sumus!
Dente timentur Apri: defendunt cornua Tauros:
Imbelles Dame quid nisi præda sumus!
Martial. l. 13. Epigr. 94.
Martial. l. 13. Epigr. 94.
[e]TheHedgehogbeing 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.
[e]TheHedgehogbeing 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.
Iste licèt digitos restudine pungat acutâ,Cortice deposito mollis Echinus erit.Mart. l. 13. Epig. 86.
Iste licèt digitos restudine pungat acutâ,Cortice deposito mollis Echinus erit.
Iste licèt digitos restudine pungat acutâ,
Cortice deposito mollis Echinus erit.
Mart. l. 13. Epig. 86.
Mart. l. 13. Epig. 86.
[f]TheStingof aWasp, orBee, &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 theWasp, 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 aWasp’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 inFig. 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 thatBeesleave their Stings behind them, when they are disturbed before they have Time to withdraw their Spears into their Scabbard. InFig. 21.is represented the two Spears as they lie in the Sting. InFig. 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, andb e, the two bearded Spears thrust out.
[f]TheStingof aWasp, orBee, &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 theWasp, 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 aWasp’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 inFig. 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 thatBeesleave their Stings behind them, when they are disturbed before they have Time to withdraw their Spears into their Scabbard. InFig. 21.is represented the two Spears as they lie in the Sting. InFig. 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, andb e, the two bearded Spears thrust out.
[g]TheCamelionis sufficiently fam’d on this Account. Besides which,Plinytells us of a Beast as big as anOx, called theTarandus, that when he pleaseth, assumes the Colour of anAss, andColorem 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 diversCaterpillars, 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 theCaterpillarthat feeds onElder, 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 greenCaterpillar, that feeds onBuckthorn, and divers others. To which I may add the prodigious Sagacity of theIchneumon Flies, that make theKermes, (for of that Tribe all theKermesI 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.
[g]TheCamelionis sufficiently fam’d on this Account. Besides which,Plinytells us of a Beast as big as anOx, called theTarandus, that when he pleaseth, assumes the Colour of anAss, andColorem 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 diversCaterpillars, 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 theCaterpillarthat feeds onElder, 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 greenCaterpillar, that feeds onBuckthorn, and divers others. To which I may add the prodigious Sagacity of theIchneumon Flies, that make theKermes, (for of that Tribe all theKermesI 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.
[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’dCorviniatRome, cast aSalamanderinto the Fire, which presently swell’d, and then vomited Store of thick slimy Matter, which put out the Coals; to which theSalamanderpresently 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. inLowth. Abridg. Vol. 2.p. 816.
[i]A Knight call’dCorviniatRome, cast aSalamanderinto the Fire, which presently swell’d, and then vomited Store of thick slimy Matter, which put out the Coals; to which theSalamanderpresently 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. inLowth. Abridg. Vol. 2.p. 816.
[k]Plinygives an Instance in each.L. 10. c. 69.Aqullæ clariùs cernunt[quà m homines;]Vultures sagaciùs odorantur: liquidiùs audiunt Talpæ obrutæ terrâ, tam denso atque surdo naturæ elemento.
[k]Plinygives an Instance in each.L. 10. c. 69.Aqullæ clariùs cernunt[quà m homines;]Vultures sagaciùs odorantur: liquidiùs audiunt Talpæ obrutæ terrâ, tam denso atque surdo naturæ elemento.
[l]TheDoublingof theHare, before she goes to Form, thereby to dodge and deceive theDogs, although a vulgar Observation, is a notable Instinct for an Animal, less fam’d for Cunning than theFox, and some others.
[l]TheDoublingof theHare, before she goes to Form, thereby to dodge and deceive theDogs, although a vulgar Observation, is a notable Instinct for an Animal, less fam’d for Cunning than theFox, and some others.
[m]It is natural for many Quadrupeds, Birds and Serpents, not only to put on a torvous angry Aspect, when inDanger; but also to snarl, hiss, or by some other Noise deter their Adversary.
[m]It is natural for many Quadrupeds, Birds and Serpents, not only to put on a torvous angry Aspect, when inDanger; but also to snarl, hiss, or by some other Noise deter their Adversary.
[n]TheIynx, orWryneck, 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.
[n]TheIynx, orWryneck, 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(AnglicèSqunckPræf. and one that I saw they call’d aStonck.)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.
[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(AnglicèSqunckPræf. and one that I saw they call’d aStonck.)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 theCrocodile, which can catch its Prey only before it, not on one Side. So theShark, of which take my often-commended Friend SirHans 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’sVoyage toJamaica, p. 23.
[p]Thus against theCrocodile, which can catch its Prey only before it, not on one Side. So theShark, of which take my often-commended Friend SirHans 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’sVoyage toJamaica, p. 23.
[q]SeeChap. 11. Note (iii).
[q]SeeChap. 11. Note (iii).