ANIMALS. 385 



least, those most weakly the most severely j since 

 we learn, that the women of Africa always deliver 

 themselves, and are well a few hours after ; while 

 those of Europe require assistance, and recover 

 more slowly. Thus the infant, still continuing 

 to push with its head forward, by the repetition 

 of its endeavours at last succeeds, and issues 

 into life. The blood, which has hitherto pass- 

 ed through the heart, now takes a wider circuit, 

 and the foramen ovale closes ; the lungs, that 

 had till this time been inactive, now first begin 

 their functions ; the air rushes in to distend 

 them j and this produces the first sensation of 

 pain, which the infant expresses by a shriek ; so 

 that the beginning of our lives, as well as the 

 end, is marked with anguish.* 



From comparing these accounts, we perceive 

 that the most laboured generation is the most 

 perfect ; and that the animal which, in proportion 

 to its bulk, takes the longest time for production, 

 is always the most complete when finished. Of 

 all others, man seems the slowest in coming into 

 life, as he is the slowest in coming to perfection : 

 other animals, of the same bulk, seldom remain 

 in the womb above six months, while he conti- 

 nues nine j and even after his birth appears more 

 than any other to have his state of imbecility 

 prolonged. 



We may observe also, that that generation is 

 the most complete in which the fewest animals 

 are produced : Nature, by attending to the pro- 



* Bonnet, Conteroplat. de la Nature, vol.i. p. 2 12. 

 VOL. I. B b 



