114 NATURAL HISTORY. 



and larger than those that are brought forth in the 

 wane ; and those also which are begotten in the full 

 of the moon : so that it might be good husbandry to 

 put rams and bulls to their female somewhat before the 

 full of the moon. It may be also, that the eggs laid in 

 the full of the moon breed the better bird ; and a num 

 ber of the like effects which may be brought into ob 

 servation. Queer e. also, whether great thunders and 

 earthquakes be not most in the full of the moon. 



Experiment solitary touching vinegar. 



898. The turning of wine to vinegar is a kind of 

 putrefaction : and in making of vinegar, they use to 

 set vessels of wine over against the noon-sun ; which 

 calleth out the more oily spirits, and leaveth the liquor 

 more sour and hard. We see also, that burnt wine is 

 more hard and astringent than wine unburnt. It is 

 said that cider, in navigations under the line, ripen- 

 eth, when wine or beer soureth. It were good to set 

 a rundlet of verjuice over against the sun in summer, 

 as they do vinegar, to see whether it will ripen and 

 sweeten. 



Experiment solitary touching creatures that sleep all 

 winter. 



899. There be divers creatures that sleep all win 

 ter ; as the bear, the hedge-hog, the bat, the bee, &c. 

 These all wax fat when they sleep, and egest not. 

 The cause of their fattening during their sleeping time, 

 may be the want of assimilating ; for whatsoever as- 

 similateth not to flesh, turneth either to sweat or fat. 

 These creatures, for part of their sleeping time, have 

 been observed not to stir at all ; and for the other part, 



