146 The'Wisj>ou ef GOD Part L 



fer kind nothing elfe ; though both prey upon 

 Fifh. Their Bills alfo are made ftreight and 

 fharp for the eafier cutting of the Water, and 

 ftriking their Prey. Could we fee the Motions 

 G)f their Legs and Feet in the Water, then we 

 jfhould better comprehend how they afcend, de- 

 fcend, and move to and fro ; and difcern, how 

 wufely and artificially their Membecs are formed 

 and adapted to thofe Ufes. 



II. In Birds^ all the Members are moft ex- 

 actly fitted for the Ufe of Flying. Firft, The 

 Mufcles, which ferve to move the Wings, are 

 the greateft and ftrongeft, becaufe much Force 

 is required to the Agitation of them ^ the under- 

 fide of them is alfo made Concave, and the up- 

 per Convex, that they may be eafily lifted up, 

 and more ftrongly beat the Air, which by this 

 Means doth more refill the Defcent of their Bo- 

 dy downwards. Then the Trunk of their Bo- 

 dy doth fomewhat refemble the Hull of a Shipj- 

 the Head, the Prow, which is for the moft 

 part fmall, that it may the more eafily cut the 

 Air, and make v/ay for their Bodies ; the Train 

 ferves to fteer, govern, and dired; their Flight ; 

 and however it may be held ered in their {land- 

 ing, or walking, yet is direfted to lie almoft 

 in the fame Plain with their Backs, or rather 

 a little inclining when they fly. That the Train 

 ferves to fleer and direft their Flight, and turn 

 their Bodies like the Rudder of a Ship, is evident 

 in the Kite, who, by a light turning of his Train, 



moves 



