578 ARK OF NOAM. 



oxen ; so that supposing one ox equal to two horses, if the ark haf 

 room for two hundred and fifty. six horses, there must have l>een 

 room for nil the animals. And the same author demonstrates, 

 that one floor of it would suffice for five hundred horses, allowing 

 nine square feet to an horse. 



As to the food in the second story, it is observed by Buteo from 

 Columello, that thirty or forty pounds of hay ordinarily suffices an 

 ox for a day ; and tliat a solid cubit of hay, as usually pressed 

 down in our hay-ricks, weighs about forty pounds; so that a 

 square cubit of hay is more thuu enough for one ox one day. Now 

 it appears lhat the second story contained 150,000 solid cubits ; 

 which, divided between two hundred and six oxen, will allurd each 

 more hay by two thirds than he can eat in a year. 



Bishop Wilkins computes all the carnivorous animals equivalent, 

 as to the bulk of their bodies, and their food, to twenty. seven 

 wolves ; and all the rest to two hundred and eighty beeves. For 

 the former he allows the sustenance of 1825 sheep, and for the lat. 

 ter 109,500 cubits of hay : all which will bo easily contained in 

 the two first stories, and much room to spare. As to the third 

 story, nobody doubts of its being sufficient for the fowls, with 

 Noah, his sons and daughters. 



Upon the whole, the learned bishop remarks, that of the two, U 

 appears much more difficult to assign a number and bulk of ne- 

 cessary things to answer the capacity of the ark, than to find suffi. 

 cient room for the several species of animals already known to have 

 been there. This he attributes to the imperfection of our lists of 

 animals, especially those of the unknown parts of the earth; 

 adding, that the most expert mathematician, at this day, could not 

 assign the proportions of a vessel better accommodated to the pur. 

 pose, than is here done ; and hence finally concludes, that " the 

 capacity of the ark, which had been made an objection against 

 scripture, ought to b esteemed a confirmation of its divine autho. 

 rity ; since, in those ruder ages, men, being less rersed in arts and 

 philosophy, were more obnoxious to vulgar prejudices than now ; 

 so that, had it been an human Invention, it would have been con. 

 trivrd according to those wild apprehensions which arise from a 

 confused and general view of things ; as much too big, as it has 

 been represented too little." 



[Wilkins. LePetletftr. Calmtt. 



