LIFE AND DEATH. 331 



than of beasts; as the eagle, the vulture, the kite, the 

 pelican, the raven, the crow, the swan, the goose, the stork, 

 the crane, the bird called the ibis, the parrot, the ringdove, 

 with the rest, though they come to their full growth within 

 a year, and are less of bodies ; surely their clothing is ex 

 cellent good against the distemperatures of the weather ; 

 and, besides, living for the most part in the open air, they 

 are like the inhabitants of pure mountains, which are long 

 lived. Again, their motion, which (as I elsewhere said) is 

 a mixed motion, compounded of a moving of their limbs 

 and of a carriage in the air, doth less weary and wear them, 

 and it is more wholesome. Neither do they suffer any 

 compression or want of nourishment in their mother s bel 

 lies, because the eggs are laid by turns. But the chiefest 

 cause of all I take to be is this, that birds are made more of 

 the substance of tire mother than of the father, whereby 

 their spirits are not so eager and hot. 



2. It may be a position, that creatures which partake 

 more of the substance of their mother than of their father 

 are long lived, as birds are, which was said before. Also 

 that those which have a longer time of bearing in the womb, 

 do partake more of the substance of their mother, less of 

 the father, and so are longer lived ; insomuch, that I am of 

 opinion, that even amongst men (which I have noted in 

 some), those that resemble their mothers most are longest 

 lived ; and so are the children of old men begotten of young 

 wives, if the fathers be sound not diseased. 



3. The first breeding of creatures is ever material, either 

 to their hurt or benefit. And, therefore, it stands with rea 

 son, that the lesser compression, and the more liberal ali 

 mentation of the young one in the womb, should confer 

 much to long life. Now this happens when either the 

 young ones are brought forth successively, as in birds, or 

 when they are single birth, as in creatures bearing but one 

 at a burthen. 



4. But long bearing in the womb makes for length of 

 life three ways. First, for that the young one partakes 

 more of the substance of the mother, as hath been said. 

 Secondly, that it comes forth more strong and able. Thirdly, 

 that it undergoes the predatory force of the air later. Be 

 sides, it shows that nature intendeth to finish her periods 

 by larger circles. Now though oxen, and sheep, which are 

 borne in the womb about six months, are but short lived, 

 that happens for other causes. 



5. Feeders upon grass and mere herbs are but short 



