INTHODUCTORY OBSERVATIONSe xlvit 



will endeavour to recover the natural pofition e- 

 qually as before. Similar motions are exhibited 

 by decollated fnails and other animals. Cuvier, 

 indeed, an eminent naturalift, feems to confider 

 the head or brain as the only feat of fenfe and 

 reflection. But this can hardly be admitted, 

 from the numerous infhances which appear con- 

 tradictory ; and the reafon of fo prevalent an 

 opinion, in all probability, arifes becaufe the prin= 

 cipal organs, for conveying external impreffions, 

 are ufually fituated in the head. If more ani- 

 mals were fubjefted to experiments of this kind, 

 and if it could be perforrtied without fuch terrible 

 concuffions of the brain and fpinal marrow, we 

 ihould be more able to reafon upon^it. Labillar- 

 diere remarks, that the turtles of Waygiou^ 

 weighing above two hundred, pounds, would con- 

 tinue to crawl feveral hours after being deprived- 

 of their heads. Redi decapitated four tortoifes, 

 and all the blood was difcharged. On opening 

 the body twelve days afterwards, the heart was 

 perceived to beat. He decapitated another large 

 tortoife ; it liv=ed twenty-three days ; l|?ut Erouf-. 

 fonet affirms, that this animal will furvive during' 

 two months without the head. Colonel Pringle 

 decapitated feveral iibellulae. One lived above 

 four months, and another nearly fix ; azid a, fm- 

 gu^ar occurrence in. his experiments was, that. 



thofe 



