338 T^e Wisdom tf GOD Part II. 



generous Creature, which others dar'd not ap- 

 proach to hurt, who might for his own Difport 

 have thus contraded himfelf into a Ball, of which 

 Kind we find none. 



I have before mentioned the Ufe affign'd by the 

 honourable Mr. Boyle^ of famous Memory, lately 

 deceas'd, to the P eriophthalmium ^ or negating 

 Membrane in Brutes, wherein I could not fully 

 acquiefce as to fome Quadrupeds, which were in 

 no danger of having their Eyes harm'd by Buflies 

 and Prickles, or Twigs of Trees ^ fince the wri- 

 ting whereof I have met with a different Account 

 of the Ufe of that Membrane, in the Anatomical 

 Defcription of fever al Creatures diJfeBed by the^ 

 Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris, Englifli'd by 

 Mr. Alexander Pitfeld^ p. 249. in the Defcription 

 of the Caffowar, Our Opinion (fay thofe Aca- 

 demifts") is, that the Membrane ferves to clean the 

 Cornea, and to hinder, that by drying, it grow 

 no lefs tranfparent. Man and the Ape, which 

 are the fole Animals wherein we have not found 

 this Eye-lid, have not wanted this Provifion for 

 the cleanfing of their Eyes, becaufe that they have 

 Hands, with which they may, by rubbing their 

 Eye-lids, exprefs the Humidity which they con- 

 tain, and which they let out through the DuBm 

 Lachrymalisy which is known by Experience^ 

 when the Sight is darkened, or when the Eyes 

 fuifer any Pain or itching ; for thefe Accidents do 

 ceafe when the Eyes are rubb'd. 



But 



