Part II. in the C R e a t i on. 261 



Neither is it to be efteem'd any Defedl or Im- 

 perfection in the Eyes of Man, that they want- 

 the feventh Mufcle, or the nidlating Membrane, 

 which the Eyes of many other Animals arc fur- 

 nifli'd withal i for tho' they be very ufeful, and 

 in a manner neceffary to them, confidering their 

 manner of living, yet they are not fo to Man. 

 T*o fuch Beads as feed upon Grafs, and other 

 Herbs, and therefore are forc'd to hold their 

 Eyes long in a hanging Pofture, and to look 

 downwards for the chufing and gathering of their 

 Food, the feventh or fufpenfory Mufcle is very 

 ufeful, to enable them to do fo without much 

 Pain or Wearinefs •, yet to Man, who doth not, 

 nor hath any occafion, indeed cannot hold his 

 Head or look long downwards, it would be ufe- 

 lefs and fuperfluous. As for the nidating Mem.- 

 brane, or Periophtkalmiiwt^ which all Birds, and 

 I think moft Quadrupeds are furnifli'd with, I 

 have been long in doubt what the Ufe of it might 

 be, and have fometimes thought it was for the 

 more abundant Defence and Security of the Eye; 

 but then I was puzzled to give any tolerable Ac- 

 count why Nature fhould be more follicitous for 

 the Prefervation of the Eyes of Brutes than Men, 

 and in this Refpedt alfo to be a Step-mother to 

 the moft noble Creature. 



But the honourable * Author ^ * Boyle of final 

 formerly mentioned gives a pro- ^-^/^j* p- 53» 54-. 

 bable Account why Frogs and Birds are furnifli'd' 



S 3 with 



