158 7/jeWisi>oM of GOD Parti. 



the Vulgar by the Name of Fixfax^ or Pack-wax^ 

 or White-leather. It is alfo very obfervable in 

 Fowls that wade in the Water, which having 

 long Legs, have alfo Necks anfwerably long 5 

 only in thefe too there is an Exception, exceed- 

 ing worthy to be noted 3 for fome Water-Fowl, 

 which are Palmipeds^ or whole-footed, have very 

 long Necks, and yet but fliort Legs, as Swans 

 and GeeJ'e^ and fome Indian Birds; wherein we 

 may obfeTve the admirable Providence of Na- 

 ture. For fuch Birds as were to fearch and ga- 

 ther their Food, whether Herbs or Infedls, in the 

 bottom of Pools and deep Waters, have long 

 Necks for that purpofe, though their Legs, as is 

 moil; convenient for fwimming, be but fhort; 

 whereas there are no Land- Fowl to be iztxi with 

 fhort Legs and long Necks, but ail have their 

 Necks in Length commenfurate to their Legs. 

 This Inftance is the more confiderable, becaufe 

 the Atheirts ufual Flam will not here help them 

 out \ for (fay they) there were many Animals of 

 difproportionate Parts and of abfurd and uncouth 

 Shapes produced at iirft, in the Infancy of the 

 World, but becaufe they could not gather th.eir 

 Food, or perform other Fundions neceflary to 

 maintain Life, they foon perifh'd, and were loft 

 again. For thefe Birds we fee can gather their 

 Food upon Land conveniently enough notwith- 

 ftanding the Length of their Necks. For Ex- 

 ample, Geefe graze upon Comm^ons, and can 

 feed themfelves fat upon Land ; yet is there not 

 one Land Bird which hath its Neck thus difpro- 

 portionate to its LegSj nor one Water one neither, 



but 



