Part IL in /^^ C r e a t i on* 333 



Again, the Parifian Academifts oblerve of the 

 Sea Tortoife^ that the Cleft of the Glottis was ftraic 

 and clofe; which exad: Inclofure I do rather be- 

 lieve is to prevent the Water from entring into 

 the Windpipe when the Tortoifes are under 

 Water, than to afTift the Effedt of the Compref- 

 fion of the Air in the Lungs, as they would have 

 it ; /or they make the main reafon of Refpiration 

 and Ufe of the Lungs in this Creature to be, to 

 take in and retain Air, by the Compreffion and 

 Dilatation whereof, made by the Mufcles, it can 

 raife or fmk itfelf in the Water, as need requires ; 

 tho' I do not exclude this. But if this be the 

 main Ufe of the Lungs and Refpiration in this 

 Animal, what is it in Land Animals, which have 

 a like Conformation of Lungs and manner of Re- 

 fpiration as the Cameliofi, Serpents^ and Lixai-ds ? 



But before I difmifs the Tortoife, I fhall add 

 two notable Obfervations concerning him, bor- 

 rowed of the faid French Academifts^ which feem 

 to argue fomething of Reafon in him, and more 

 than a bare Liftind. The firft is in the Land 

 Tortoije ; and it is his manner of turning himfelf, 

 and getting upon his Feet again when he is caft 

 upon his Back, which they defcribe in thefe 

 Words : At the great Aperture of the Shell before^ 

 there was at the top a rais'd Border^ to grant mnrc 

 liberty to the Neck and Head^ for lifting them j elves 

 ^upwards ; and this InfeBion of the Neck is of great 

 Vfe to the 'J'ortoifes^ for it fcrves them to turn again 



'when 



