ANIMALS. 293 



days, this cloud began to thicken, and to t'orm an oblong body, 

 of the figure of a little worm ; and, in twelve days, the figure of 

 the embryo was distinctly to be perceived, and even its parts 

 came into view. In the region of the breast he perceived two 

 bloody specks ; and two more that appeared whitish. Fomteen 

 days after impregnation, the head of the embryo was become 

 large and transparent, the eyes prominent, the mouth open, and 

 the rudiments of the ears beginning to appear ; the back-bone, 

 of a whitish colour, was bent towards the breast ; the two bloody 

 specks being now considerably increased, appeared to be no- 

 thing less than the outlines of the two ventricles of the heart ; 

 and the two whitish specks on each side, now appeared to be 

 the rudiments of the lungs ; towards the region of the belly, the 

 liver began to be seen, of a reddish colour, and a little intricate 

 mass, like ravelled thread, discerned, which soon appeared to 

 ■ ^ the stomach and the intestines ; the legs soon after began 

 > be seen, and to assume their natural positions -. and from 

 chat time forth, all the parts being formed, every day only 

 served to develope them still more, until the thirty-first day, 

 when the rabbit brought forth her young, completely fitted for 

 the purposes of their humble happiness. 



Having thus seen the stages of generation in the meaner ani- 

 mals, let us take a view of its progress in man ; and trace 

 the feeble beginnings of our own existence. An account of 

 the lowliness of our own origin, if it cannot amuse, will at 

 least serve to humble us ; and it may take from our pride, though 

 it fails to gratify our curiosity. We cannot here trace the 

 variations of the begitming animal, as in the former instances; 

 for the opportunities of inspection are but few and accidental : 

 for this reason, we must be content often to fill up the blanks of 

 our history with conjecture. And, first, we are entirely igno- 

 rant of the state of the infant in the womb, immediately aftei 

 conception ; but we have good reason to believe, that it pro- 

 ceeds, as in most other animals, from the egg.' Anatomists 

 inform us, that four days after conception, there is found in the 

 womb an oval substance, about the size of a small pea, but 

 longer one way than the other ; this little body is formed by ail 



I This history of the ehild iu the womb is traiiblaled from Mr Biifl.di with 

 snioe alt«ratiuiu. 



