ANIMALS. 103 



feather, which we expect to propagate ? and yet, 

 for all this, the fact is known to be true, and what 

 no speculation can invalidate. In the same man- 

 ner, a thousand various instances assure us, that 

 the child in the womb is sometimes marked by 

 the strong affections of the mother : how this is 

 performed, we know not ; we only see the effect, 

 without any connexion between it and the cause. 

 The best physicians have allowed it, and have 

 been satisfied to submit to the experience of a 

 number of ages ; but many disbelieve it, because 

 they expect a reason for every effect. This, how- 

 ever, is very hard to be given, while it is very easy 

 to appear wise by pretending incredulity. 



Among the number of monsters, dwarfs and 

 giants are usually reckoned ; though not, perhaps, 

 with the strictest propriety, since they are no way 

 different from the rest of mankind, except in sta- 

 ture. It is a dispute, however, about words, and 

 therefore scarcely worth contending about. But 

 there is a dispute of a more curious nature on this 

 subject ; namely, whether there are races of peo- 

 ple thus very diminutive, or vastly large ; or whe- 

 ther they be merely accidental varieties, that now 

 and then are seen in the country, in a few per- 

 sons, whose bodies some external cause has con- 

 tributed to lessen or enlarge. 



With regard to men of diminutive stature, all 

 antiquity has been unanimous in asserting their 

 national existence. Homer was the first who has 

 given us an account of the pigmy nation contend- 

 ing with the cranes j and what poetical license 

 might be supposed to exaggerate, Athenaeus has 



