^(aturall HiJtory ; 



89 



Experiment 

 Solitary,tou- 

 chingthe Vet 

 fion of Water 

 into Air. 



91 



was but for twelve houres only And it is like that the Experiment would : 

 have been more effectuall, if the Bayling had been for two or three dayes, • 

 as we prefcribed before. 



As touching A§mikiion, (for- there is a degree of Affimilation even in 

 Inanimate bodies) we fee Examples of it in fome stones, in Clay-Grounds^ 

 lying near to the top of the Earth, where Pebble is h In which you may ma- 

 nifeftly fee divers Pebbles gathered together, and aCrulf of Cement or Stone; 

 between them,as hard-as the Pebbles themfelves H ' And it were good to make 

 a Triall of purpofe,by taking C/^, and putting in it divers Pebble Stones, 

 thick fet, to fee whether in continuance of time, it will not be- harder than 

 other Clay of the fame lump, in which no Pebbles are fet. We feealfoin 

 Ruines of old Walls, especially towards the Bottome, the Morter will be- 

 come as hard as the Brick h We fee alio, that the Wood on the fides of Feflels 

 of Wine , gatheretha Cruft of T artar harder than the Wood it felf^And Scales 

 likewife grow to the T eeth, harder than the Teeth themfelves. 



Moft of all, Induration by A\]imulation appeared! in the Bodies of Trees, 

 and living Creatures i For no Nounihment that the Tree receivech, or that 

 the living Creature 'receiveth, is fo hard us Wood, Wn^tot Hom/src. but is 

 Indurated after by Ajjimilation, 



THeEieof the Underftanding, is like the Eie of the Senfe : For as you 

 may fee great Objects through fmall Crr'nfie?, : ; or Levels :■ So you may 

 fee great "Axiomes 6i\ Nature, through fma'll ;i no- 'Contemptible Inftance'ss 

 The ' Speedy Depredation of Air upon rvatry Moifure, and Ferfion of the fame 

 into Air, appeareth in nothing more viiible, than in the fudden Difcharge, 

 or vanifhing, of a little Cloud 0$ Breath, or FapourMom Glafs,' -or the Blade 

 of a Sword, or any fuch Polilhed body Suclvas doth- not at all Detain, or 

 Imbibe the Moifture •, For the Miifinefs fcattereth and breaketh up fudden- 

 ly. But the like Cloud, if it were Oily, or Fatty, will hot difcharge Not be- 

 caufe it fticketh rafter \ But becaufe ^preyeth upen Water ; And Flame, 

 and f^'r^upon oil ; And therefore, to take out a Spot of Greafe, they ufe 

 a Coal upon brown Paper Becaufe ^w .worketh upon Greafe, or Oil, as 

 Air doth upon Water. And we fee Paper oilcd,6r Wood oiled,or the like,laft 

 long moift-,but Wet with Water, drie, or putrifie fooner. The Caufe is,for 

 that Air medleth little with the Moijlure of oik 



Experiment j 

 Solitary, ton- 1 

 ching the Force 

 ofVmni. 



92 i 



Experiment , 

 Solitary, ton- \ 

 ching the Pro- 

 ducing of Fea- 

 thers and Hairs 

 of divers Co 

 lonrs r 



93 



""Tlrlereisan Admirable demonffration, in the fame triflling Inflanceoi 

 * the little Cloud upon Glafs, or Gemmes, or Blades of Swords, of the Force 

 of Union, zsr tn in the leaft Quantities,and weakeft Bodies, how much it con- 

 duced! to Prefervation of the prefent Forme-, And the Refitting of a New. 

 For mark well the difcharge of that cloud ; And you (hall fee it ever break 

 up, firft in the Skirts, and laft in the Midft. We fee likewife, that much 

 Water, draweth forth the Juyce of the Body Infufed •, But little water,is im » 

 bibed by the Body •• Aud this is a Principall Caufe, why in Operation up- 

 on Bodies, for their Ferfion or Alteration, the Triall in great Quantities,doth 

 not anfwer the Triall in fmall - And fo deceiveth many • For thatd fay)the 

 greater Body, refifteth more any Alteration of Forme, and requireth farre 

 greater Strength in the Active Body, that lhould fubdue it. 



WEhave fpoken before, in the fifth Infiance, of the Caufe of Orient 

 Colours, in Birds \ Which is by the Finenefs of the Strainer 5 vrd 

 will now endeavour to reduce the fame Axiom* to a Work. For this WrU 



ting 



