Part II. in itie Creation. 337 



it bends its Back fo far till its Head comes to 

 touch its hind Part, and fo with Armour gather 

 itfelf into a round Ball, the lateral Extremities 

 of the Shell touching one another, and inclofing 

 the Body on the Sides, and the fore and hind 

 Parts coming fo near together, that there is no- 

 thing to be feen but the Armature of the Head 

 and Tail, which, like Doors, fhut up the Hole 

 wfeich the Shells of the Body left open ; this it 

 performs by the Acflion of a notable Mufcle on 

 each Side, of a great length, having the form of 

 the Letter X, made up of many Fibres, decufla- 

 ting one another long- ways, by the help whereof 

 it can contraft its Shell, and hold it contracted 

 with fuch a mighty Force, that he muft be a 

 ftrong Man indeed that is able to open it. 



Had fuch a Mufcle as this, and fuch an Abi- 

 lity of Contraction, been given to any Creature 

 that was cover'd with foft Hair or Fur, there 

 might have been fome Pretence to fancy that this 

 was accidental, and not defign'd -, but feeing there 

 is not one Inftance of this kind in Nature, it 

 muft be great Stupidity to believe it, and an Im- 

 pudence to aifert it; neither will the Atheifts 

 ufual }cpn(7(pvyi<TjiVy or Refuge, that there were in- 

 deed at Jirjl fuch Creatures producd, but being ob- 

 noxious to thofe that werejiroug and rapacious^ they 

 were by degrees dejlrofd, a?2d the Race loji, here 

 help them out; becaufe fuch a Mufcle, and Fa- 

 culty of ufing it to that Purpofe, might as likely 

 have fiillen to the Lot or Chance of a ilrong and 



Z generous 



