CENTURY VIII. 399 



breed at all seasons, are full of heat and moisture ; 

 doves are the fullest of heat and moisture amongst 

 birds, and therefore breed often ; the tame dove al 

 most continually. But deer are a melancholy dry 

 creature, as appeareth by their fearfulness, and the 

 hardness of their flesh. Sheep are a cold creature, as 

 appeareth by their mildness, and for that they seldom 

 drink. Most sort of birds are of a dry substance in 

 comparison of beasts. Fishes are cold. For the se 

 cond cause, fulness of food ; men, kine, swine, dogs, 

 &c. feed full ; and we see that those creatures, which 

 being wild, generate seldom, being tame, generate 

 often ; which is from warmth, and fulness of food. 

 We find, that the time of going to rut of deer is in 

 September ; for that they need the whole summer s 

 feed and grass to make them fit for generation. And 

 if rain come early about the middle of September, 

 they go to rut somewhat the sooner ; if drought, 

 somewhat the later. So sheep, in respect of their 

 small heat, generate about the same time, or some 

 what before. But for the most part, creatures that 

 generate at certain seasons, generate in the spring ; as 

 birds and fishes ; for that the end of the winter, and 

 the heat and comfort of the spring prepareth them. 

 There is also another reason why some creatures ge 

 nerate at certain seasons ; and that is the relation of 

 their time of bearing to the time of generation ; for 

 no creature goeth to generate whilst the female is 

 full ; nor whilst she is busy in sitting, or rearing her 

 young. And therefore it is found by experience, 

 that if you take % the eggs or young ones out of the 



