Part I. in the Ck^atio-^. 119 



that of his owu Knowledge one and the fame 

 Swallow, by the fubftrading daily of her Eggs 

 proceeded to lay nineteen fucceflively, and then 

 gave over ; as I have * elfevvhere 

 noted. Now that I am upon this ^J Pj^face to 

 Subject of the Number of £^^i, give ^y^ ornfthoi. 

 . me leave to add a remarkable Obfer- 

 vation referring thereto, viz. That Birds, and 

 fuch oviparous Creatures, as are long-liv'd, have 

 *Eggs enough at firft conceived in them to ferve 

 them for many Years laying, probably for as ma- 

 ny as they are to live, allowing fuch a Propor- 

 tion for every Year, as will ferve for one or two 

 Incubations -, whereas Infed:s, which are to breed 

 but once, lay all their Eggs at once, have they 

 never fo many. Now, had thefe Things been 

 govern'd by Chance, I fee no Reafon why it 

 fhould conftantly fall out fo. 



Thirdly, The marvellous fpeedy Growth of / 

 Birds that are hatch'd in Nefts, and fed by the 

 Old ones there, 'till they are fledg'd, and come 

 almoft to their full Bignefs, at which Perfedion 

 they arrive within the fhort Term of about one 

 Fortnight, feems to me an Argument of Provi- 

 dence, defigning thereby their Prefervation, that 

 they might not lie long in a Condition exposed to 

 the Ravine of any Vermine that may find them, 

 being utterly unable to efcape or fliift for them- 

 felves. 



Another and no lefs efFedlual Argument may 

 be taken from the Care and Providence us*d for 

 the Hatching and Rearing their Young : And 

 fixft, they fearch out a fecret and quiet Place 



I 4 where 



