586 THE PHILOSOPHY 



CHAPTER XII. 



Of the Transformation of Animals. 



TH E transformation of caterpillars, and of different kinds of 

 worms, into winged infedts, has long excited the attention, as 

 well as the admiration of mankind. But the truth is, that every 

 animal, without exception, undergoes changes in their ftrudlure, 

 mode of exiftence, and external appearances. Mankind, from their 

 embryo ftate, to their final diflblution, aflume many different forms. 

 Some weeks after conception, the rudiments of a human being are 

 to be perceived. As pregnancy advances, the approaches to the per- 

 fedl figure become gradually more diftinguifliable, till the period of 

 birth. While in the foetus ftate, the head is difproportlonally large, 

 when compared with the other parts of the body ; nourilhment is 

 conveyed to it by very different channels ; and refpiration is not ne- 

 ceflary, becaufe the circulation of the blood is not carried on in the 

 fame manner as after birth. Even after birth, the form, fymmetry, 

 and organs of the animal are by no means complete. The head con- 

 tinues for fome time to be difproportionally large; the hands and feet 

 are not properly fhaped; the legs are crooked ; the hair on the head 

 is fliort and fcanty ; no teeth as yet appear ; and there is not a vef- 

 tige of a beard. In a few months, however, the fymmetry of all 



the 



