A NATURAL HISTORY 



Among the Ancients were very flrange Notions about the Ori- 

 ginal of Serpents, and other Animals : Bees, fays a cercain Ora- 

 tor, Hiftorian, and Philofopher, were bred from the Carcafs of 

 Oxen ; Wafps from the Corruptions of Horfes j Beetles from Affes ; 

 and Serpents from human Marrow : Hence they confecrated a 

 Dragon to Kings and Princes, as a Creature peculiar to Man *. 



I Don't know how to form an Apology for the old Philofo- 

 phers, whofe Account of fpontaneous Generation is perfedly ro- 

 mantick : What can be more io, than to fay Frogs are engendered 

 of Slime, or in the Clouds, and dropt down in the Showers of 

 Rain ? So the Es;yptians faid, that Mice w^ere produced from 

 the Mud of Nilus, and Infedls from putrified Matter animated by 

 the Sun. The Principle of this equivocal Generation, was the 

 old Doilrine of Egypt, and now jufdy exploded, as contrary to 

 Reafon and common Senfe, as well as to the Defign of the 

 Creator in making Animals Male and Female ; the End of which 

 Difference in Sexes, all Animals exadly anfwer, as if they were 

 endued with human Reafon. No Woman more tender of her 

 Babe, or careful in providing for it, than Animals are of their 

 Young Ones. 



SECTION II. 



THE Knowledge of mere Animals (who have no School for 

 Arts and Sciences) is moft furprifing ; thefe without vifible 

 Initruftors, know how to perpetuate their Species to the End of 

 the World ; and how to order their Eggs, as thofe, \^'ho are ap- 

 prized, their Succeffors were contained in them, and that it was 

 in their power to produce them, and to perpetuate, or keep up 

 the Name of their Family. 



The Serpentine Animals are thus taught by Nature ; thefe 

 differ in the Mode of Propagation ; fome of them are vi'vipa- 

 rouSy an Epithet applied to fuch Animals, who lay their Eggs 

 within their Bellies, who bring forth their Young Ones alive and 

 perfect, as Vipers, Sheep, Hares ; others are oviparms, and bring 

 forth their Young from Eggs, as Serpents, Snakes, Lizards, 

 Frogs, Salmon, Tortoife, Herrings, Gff •\. 



In 



* Plutarch'^ Lives of Cleomenss and jSgh. + Omnia ah avo animalia^ 



