Parti. in the Creation, 147 



moves his Body which Way he pleafes. lidem 

 indenfur artem guhernandi docuijfe caiida fexibus^ 

 in Cf^lo 7nonfirante natiira quod opus ejfet in pro- 

 fundo, Plin. Lib. 10. c. 10. I'hey Jeem to have 

 taught Men the Art of fleering a Ship by the 

 Flexures of their T'ails > Nature JJjewing in the 

 Air "what was yieedful to he done in the Deep, And 

 it's notable that Arijlotle truly obferves, that 

 whole-footed Birds, and thofe that have long 

 Legs, have for the moft part (hort Tails ; and 

 therefore whilft they fly, do not, as others, draw 

 them up to their Bellies, but ftretch them at 

 length backvvards, that they may ferve to fteer 

 and guide them inftead of Tails. Neither doth 

 the Tail ferve only to diredl and govern the 

 Flight, but alfo partly to fupport the Body, and 

 keep it even j wherefore, when fpread, it lies 

 parallel to the Horizon, and ftands not perpen- 

 dicular to it, as Fiihes do. Hence Birds that^ 

 have no Tails, as fome Sorts of Colymbi^ or Duck- 

 ers, fly very inconveniently with their Bodies al- 

 moft ered. 



. To this I (hall add further, That the Bodies 

 of Birds are fmall in Comparifon of Quadru- 

 peds, that they may more eafily be fupported in 

 the Air during their Flight ; which is a great 

 Argument of Wifdom and Defign: Elfe why 

 lliould not we fee Species of Pegafi, or Flying- 

 Horfes, of Grijfins, of Harpies, and an Huu* 

 dj*ed more, which might make a Shift to liye 

 well enough, notwithftanding they could make 

 no Ufe of their Wings : Befides, their Bodies 

 . are not only fmall, but of a broad Figure, that 



. L 2 ^ the 



