394 



A TREAITSE 



breeding their 

 yong ones. 



4. B ut it is time that we come to the third fort of aftions per- 



Of the orderly formed by beafts, which we promiied to dilcourfe of.Thefe feem 

 tramc ^ m ^ tobe more admirable , then. any we have yet touched : and are 

 by S beafts r in chiefely concerning the breeding of their yong ones. Above all 

 ' others, the orderly courfe of birds in this aftaire, is moil re- 

 markable. After they have coupled they make their neft ,, they 

 line it with mofTe,ftravv and feathers } they lay their egges, they 

 fit upon them, they hatch them, they feed their yong ones, and 

 they teach them tofiie: a II which they doe with focontinuate 

 and regular a method , as no man can direct or imagine a 

 better. 



But as for the regufarity,orderlineiTe,and continuance ofthefe 

 aclions , the matter is eafie enough to be conceived * for feeing 

 that the operation of the male, maketh a change in the female ; 

 and that this change beginning from the very firrt , groweth by 

 time into divers proportions it is no wonder that it breedeth 

 divers difpofitions in the female, which caufeher to doedifte- 

 rent actions.,correlpondcnt to thole divers difpofitions. Now, 

 thole actions muft of neceifity beconftant and orderly , becaufe 

 the caufes whence they procced,are fuch . 



But to determine in particular how it commeth to pafle, that 

 every change in the fern ale, difpofeth her to fuch and fiich acli- 

 ons, there is the difficulty ; and it is no fmall one : as well , for 

 that there are no careful! and due obfervations , made of the 

 cffeds and circumflances which fhou.'d guide us to judge of 

 their caufes ; as becaufe thefe aclions are the mof t refined ones 

 of fenfitive creatures j and doe flow from the top and perfecli- 

 cn of their nature ; and are the Jafl frraine of their utmoft vi- 

 gour, unto which all others are fubordinate. As in our enquiry 

 into the motions and operations of the bodies of a lower crbe 

 then thefe, we meet with fome (namely the loadflone and fuch 

 like) of which it is very hard to give exact and plaine account ; 

 the Author of them refer v ing fomething from our cleare and 

 diftinct knowledge ; and fuffering us to looke upon it bnt 

 through a mifte: in like manner we cannot but expccb.rhat in the 

 depth of this other perfecler nature, tlieremuit befomewhat 

 wliereot" we can have but a glimmering and imperfccl notion. 

 But a? in the other, it /crved our nirne to trace out a way, 

 how thofc operations might beefle5ted by bodies, and by locall 



motion 



