484 NATURAL HISTORY. 



of the moon breed the better birds ; and a number 

 of the like effects which may be brought into obser 

 vation. Query 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 also see, that burnt 

 wine is more hard and astringent than wine unburnt. 

 It is said, that cider in navigations under the line 

 ripeneth, 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 

 winter, 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 assimilateth 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, to stir, but not to remove. 

 And they get warm and close places to sleep in. 

 When the Flemings wintered in Nova Zembla, the 



