72 He Wisdom of GOD Parti, 



ceffary for InfeGs than it is for other Animalsj, 

 but rather more, thefe having more Air-Vef- 

 fels for their Bulk by far than they, there be- 

 ing many Orifices on each Side their Bodies for 

 the Admiflion of Air, which if you flop with 

 Oil or Honey, the Infedl prefently dies, and 

 revives no more. This was an Obfervation 

 of the Ancients, though the Reafon of it they 

 did not underftand j (Oleo illito InJeBa omnia ex- 

 animantur. Plin.) which was nothing but the 

 intercluding of the Air ; for tho' you put Oil 

 upon them, if you put it not upon, or obftrucft 

 thofe Orifices therewith, whereby they draw 

 the Air, they fuffer nothing : If you obftrudt 

 only fome, and not others, the Parts which are 

 near and.fupplied with Air, from thence are 

 by and by convulfed, and fhortly relaxed and 

 deprived of Motion, the reft that were un- 

 touched ftill retaining it. Nay, more than all 

 this. Plants themfelves have a Kind of Refpi- 

 ration, being furnifh'd with Plenty of Veffels 

 for the Derivation of Air to all their Parts; 

 as huth been obferv'd, nay, firft difcover'd, by 

 that great and curious Naturalift Malpighius, 

 Another Ufe of the Air is to fuftain the Flight 

 of Birds and Infefts. Moreover, by its Gravity 

 it raifes the Water in Pumps, Siphons, and other 

 Engines, and performs all thofe Feats which 

 former Philofophers, through Ignorance of the 

 Efficient Caufe, attributed to a Final, namely 

 Nature's Abhorrence of a Vacuity or empty Space. 

 The elaftick or expanfive Faculty of the Air, 

 whereby it dilates it felf, when comprefTed, 



(indeed 



