148 OF INSTINCT. SECT. XVI. a. 



motions by which it frequently wraps the umbilical 

 chord around its neck or body, and even fome- 

 times ties it on a knot ; are inftances of the latter. 

 SmeJiie's Midwifery, (Vol. I. p. 182.) 



By a due attention to thefe circumftances many of 

 the actions of young animals, which at firft fight 

 feemed only referable to an inexplicable in (line!:, 

 will appear to have been acquired like all other ani- 

 mal actions, that are attended with confcioufnefs, 

 by the repeated efforts of our mufcles under the conduft 

 of our fenfations or dejires. 



The chick in the fheli begins to move its feet and 

 legs on the fixth day of incubation (Mattrecian, 

 p. 138) ; or on the feventh day, (Langley); after- 

 wards they are feen to move themfelves gently in 

 the liquid that furrounds them, and to open and 

 fhut their mouths, (Harvei, de Generat. p. 62, and 

 197. Form de Poulet. ii. p. 129). Puppies before 

 the membranes are broken, that involve them, are 

 feen to move themfelves, to put out their tongues, 

 and to open and fhut their mouths, (Harvey, Gip- 

 foo, Riolan, HallerJ. And calves lick themfelves 

 and fwallow many of their hairs before their nati- 

 vity: which however puppies do not, (Swam- 

 merden, p. 319. Flemyng Phil. Tranf. Ann. 1755. 

 42.) And towards the end of geftation, the foetus 

 of all animals are proved to drink part of the li- 

 quid in which they fvvim, (Haller. Phyliol. T. 8. 

 204). The white of egg is found in the mouth 

 and gizzard of the chick, and is nearly or quite 

 confumed before it is hatched, (Harvie de Generat. 

 58). And the liquor amnii is found in the mouth 

 and ftomach of the human foetus, and of calves ; 

 and how elfe fhould that excrement be produced 

 in the inteftines of all animals, which is voided in 



great 



