198 NATURAL HISTORY 



In the same manner did these young adders attempt to bite 

 before their fangs were in being. The dam however was 

 furnished with very formidable ones, which we lifted up (for 

 they fold down when not used) and cut them off with the 

 point of our scissars. 



There was little room to suppose that this brood had ever 

 been in the open air before ; and that they were taken in for 

 refuge, at the mouth of the dam, when she perceived that dan- 

 ger was approaching ; because then probably we should have 

 found them somewhere in the neck, and not in the abdomen. 



LETTER XXXII. 



TO THE SAME. 



CASTRATION has a strange effect: it emasculates both man, 

 beast, and bird, and brings them to a near resemblance of the 

 other sex. Thus eunuchs have smooth unmuscular arms, 

 thighs and legs; and broad hips, and beardless chins, and 

 squeaking voices. Gelt-stags and bucks have hornless heads, 

 like hinds and does. Thus wethers have small horns, like 

 ewes; and oxen large bent horns, and hoarse voices when 

 they low, like cows : for bulls have short straight horns ; and 

 though they mutter and grumble in a deep tremendous tone, 

 yet they low in a shrill high key. Capons have small combs 

 and gills, and look pallid about the head, like pullets ; they 

 also walk without any parade, and hover chickens like hens. 

 Barrow-hogs have also small tusks like sows. 



Thus far it is plain that the deprivation of 'masculine vigour 

 puts a stop to the growth of those parts or appendages that 

 are looked upon as it's insignia. But the ingenious Mr. Lisle, 

 in his book on husbandry, carries it much farther ; for he says 

 that the loss of those insignia alone has sometimes a strange 

 effect on the ability itself : he had a boar so fierce and vene- 

 reous, that, to prevent mischief, orders were given for his 



