A NATURAL HISTORY 



Among the Antients were very ftrange Notions about the Or/- 

 ginal of Serpents, and other Animals : Bees, fays a certain Ora- 

 tor, Hiftorian, and Philofopher, were bred from the Carcafs of 

 Oxen J JVafps from the Corruption of Horfes ; Beetles from Afles 5 

 and Serpents from human Marrow : Hence they confecrated a 

 Dragon to Kings and Princes, as a Creature pecuHar to Man *. 



I D o N * T know how to form an Apology for the old Philofo- 

 phers, whofe Account of fpontaneous Generation is perfecftly ro- 

 mantick : What can be more fo, than to fay Frogs are engendered 

 of Slime, or in the Clouds, and dropt down in the Showers oF 

 Rain ? So the Egyptians faid, that Mice were produced fron:i 

 the Mud of Niliis, and Infecfts from putrid Matter animated by* 

 the Sun. The Principle of this equivocal Generation, was the 

 old Dodtrine o^ Egypt, and now juftly exploded, as contrary to 

 Reafon and common Senfe, as well as to the Defign of the 

 Creator in making Animals male and female ; the End of which 

 Difference in Sexes, all Animals exadly anfwer, as if they were? 

 endued with human Reafon. No Woman more tender of her 

 Babe, or careful in providing for it, than Animals are of their, ( 

 Young Ones. . 



SECTION IL 



THE Knowledge of mere Animals (who have no School for 

 Arts and Sciences) is moft furprifing ; thefe, without vifible 

 Inltrudlors, know how to perpetuate their Species to the End of 

 the World ; and how to order their Eggs, as thofe, who were ap^ 

 prized, their SuccefTors were contained in them, and that it was 

 in their power to produce them, and fo perpetuate, or keep up 

 the Name of their Family. 



The Serpentine Animals are thus taught by Nature j thefe 

 differ in the Mode of Propagation j fome of them are 'vivipa- 

 rous, an Epithet applied to fuch Animals, who lay their Eggs 

 within their Bellies, who bring forth their Young ones alive and 

 perfed, as Vipers, Sheep, Hares j others are oviparous, and bring 

 forth their Young from Eggs, as Serpents, Snakes, Lisards, 

 Frogs, Salmon, Tortoife, Herrings, &c. -f- 



In 



* Hut arch's JAves of Cleomenefznd^^is. -f Omnia ab ovo an'malia. 



