6 A NATURAL HISTORY 



grown big^ and then feed on the Tolk, as the ftronger Diet ; and, 

 vv'hcn that is confuraed, the Shell opens, and lets out the Prifo- 

 ners. 



Though all Fowl are hatched from Eggs, yet it is not al- 

 ways by the Parent's Incubation, or Brooding, but by fome other 

 Warmth : The Tortoije is faid to lay no leis than fifteen hundred 

 Eggs, v/hich (he 'covers in the Sand, and leaves the Sun to hatch 

 them. The Eggs of the OJlrich * are hatched after the fame man- 

 ner ; fo the Serpent lays, and leaves her Eggs in the Dunghill. 



The Eggs of Serpents, and certain other Animals, are Parts 

 formed in the Ovaries of the Female, covered with a Shell, which 

 includes an Embryo of the fame Species. In the days of old, the 

 Egg was the Symbol of the World ; the World, by Tradition, be- 

 ing made of an Egg : Hence Eggs became of lingular Impor- 

 tance in the Sacrifices of Cyl^ele the Mother of the Gods. Some 

 of the Pagan Deities were faid to be produced from Eggs. 



In fome Vans of ^/la, and at Grand Cairo in Egypt, they hatch 

 their Chickens in Ovens ; each Oven contains feveral thoufand 

 Eggs which the Country brings in, and have their Eggs returned 

 in Chickens. 



Bv this Method, they generally want fome integral Part, as 

 an Eye, a Claw, &c. which may be owing to a Want of equal 

 Impreffion of Heat, tho' the artificial Warmth be continued. 

 There are thoufands, yea Millions at a Batch, thus produced in 

 Egyptian Ovens ; — and may as well be in Europe, if our Bakers 

 had the knack on 't. An Experiment has been made by 2l Duke of 

 Titjca?ry, who having built fuch Ovens, did produce living Chic- 

 kens in the fame manner. 



Under this SeBion, I fliall confider the wonderfiil Sa2;acitv 

 of Serpents, in chufing their Paths for Deambulation, and finding 

 out proper Receptacles for their Repofe and Security in Winter j 

 and that in Climates that are Oppofites in tlieir Nature. 



I N Summer, generally fpeaking, they are found in folitary and 

 unfi-equented dry Situations ; others delight in moorifli fenny 

 Grounds; and in hot Countries, near to Groves, Rivulets — Thefe, 

 like other Animals, ftriilly adhere to the Conilitutions of their 

 Family, without Deviation. 



Th ey 



3 



. *JobxxK\K. 14, 15. JVilku^hh/iOrnhhd, lib, ii. cap,^. 



