Part II. in ihe CKtArio^. 335 



which is always careful to keep himfelf in this 

 /Equilibrium^ fo as other Animals are to keep 

 themfelves on their Legs, in this Cafe, by the fame 

 Inftind) dares not let the Air out of his Lungs, 

 to acquire a Weight which might make him fpee- 

 dily to fink, becaufe he fears that his Shell being 

 wet it fhould become fo heavy, that he being 

 funk to the bottom of the Water, might never 

 haye Power afterw^ards to re-afcend ; if this may 

 be the reafon why he expofes himfelf to the dan- 

 ger of being taken at fuch a time, rather than he 

 will defcend fuddenly to the bottom, it is clear 

 that he is endu'd with an admirable Providence 

 and Forefight, and a Power of Argumentation. 



That Nature doth really defign the Preferva- 

 tion and Security of the more infirm Creatures, 

 by the defenfive Armour that it hath given to 

 fome of them, together with Skill to ufe it, is, I 

 think, demonfl:rable in the common Hedge-hog^ 

 or Urchin^ and one Species of T^atou^ or Arma- 

 dillo. The Hedge-hog hath his Back, Sides and 

 Flanks thick fet with ftrong and fliarp Prickles, 

 and befides, by the help of a Mufcle given him 

 for that purpofe, is enabled to contradl himfelf 

 into a globular Figure, and fo to withdraw, in- 

 clofe, and hide his whole Under-part, Head, 

 Belly and Legs (which for the Neceflities and 

 Conveniences of Life mufl be left deftitute of 

 thi§ Armour) within his Covert or Thicket of 

 Prickles ; fo that Dogs, or other rapacious Crea- 

 tures, cannot lay hold upon him or bite him 



without 



