Cbfervathns on the Ipomaa Hifflda. 125 



■ XXVII. Tiiey can alfo move their fore legs, and twift 

 them in the form of a \\\\x.t'. \ \vh ch forms a fixth kind of 

 movement, fo various and mi.hipli*.. that the eye can fcarcely 

 follow them. The feventh and el htn kinds relult from the 

 union and interlacement of their rniudle legs with thri'e be- 

 fore. "\^'hat fccms fiirprifing is, that thefc eight kinds of 

 movement are perfectly limilai to thoie vo''.mtariiy performed 

 by the animal, and as it were for pleafurc, before its head 

 is cut off, and when it enjoys perfoft hcaiin and Iranqviillity. 

 In thelaft place, flies perform a ninth kind of movement by 

 conveying their leas and thighs around their head, which 

 they rub and poli(h" in variou's dirccfc'ions. It is evident that 

 this movement cannot take place after they have been de- 

 capitated, 



XXVIII. Flies certainly would not exhibit ihefe phasno- 

 mena if they experienced as acute pain as warm-blooded ani- 

 mals when' fiibjcded to decapitation, which is conftantly 

 followed by fpeedv death. Will it be faid that thefe different 

 movements luppoie, on their part, iieither pleafurc nor recrea- 

 tion, but rather a need which they experience of rubbing and 

 polilhing their lees, their wings, and different parts of their 

 ■bodies ? But if this be the cafe, we mult be forced to confefs 

 that decapitation does not prevent them from being fenfible 

 to fniall privations and old habits, which are by no means 

 •neceffary to their exiltence ; a manifeft proof that it occaiions 

 no pain to them, or at lealt that it is exceedingly flight ; 

 otherwift;; they would xiot attend to things of fo little import- 

 ance. 



XXIX. Cold-blooded animals could fupply me with many 

 examples of a fimilar kind ; but I Ihall content myfelf with 

 mentioning only one, fnrniflicd by the tortoife. If the head 

 of this animal be cut oft', or, what is ftill better, if its brains 

 be fcooped oui with dexterity, it feems to be fcarcely fenlible 

 of the operation ; it conlinucs to walk as before, it afcends 

 and dci'cend.'S, avoids tliofe obftacles which it meets with, 

 turns itfcit to different fides, Hands up on its hind paws, and 

 f>erforms movements of every kind ; and though its paws arc 

 covered with a hard and fcaly fkin, if they are (lightly touclied 

 even with a feather when It is walking, or has been a little 

 .irritated, it immediately draws them back, and remains iome 

 time at reft : in a wi^-d, its I'enrTljilily feems to bo fo little 

 altered, that it feels ihe iinallelt impreflion made on its flicll. 

 Tortoifes live in this manner five or fix months without anv 

 change being obferved in their movements or habits : there 

 arc even certain movements which they execute with more 

 rtadincfij and furctv than lii their flale of inte>|,ritv. Such i:» 



that 



