GREAT LAMPREY. 



255 



Woiild be defined by these two ; and the middle 

 eyes, although they behold the same thing, yet 

 could they not behold so much thereof as these ^ 

 so were it no advantage unto man to have a third 

 eye between those two he hath already; and the 

 fiction of Argus seems more reasonable than this ; 

 for though he had many eyes, yet were they placed 

 in circumference and positions of advantage, and 

 so are they placed in several lines in spiders. 

 Again, these cavities which men call eyes are seated 

 out of the head, and where the gills of other iish 

 are placed ; containing no organs of sight, nor 

 having any communication with the brain, and 

 that being placed (as Galen observeth) in the 

 upper part of the body, for the fitter situation 

 of the eyes, and conveniency required unto sight, 

 it is not reasonable to imagine that they are 

 any where else, or deserve that name which are 

 seated in other parts. And therefore we relinquish 

 as fabulous what is delivered of Sternopthalmi^ or 

 men with eyes in their breast ; and when it is said 

 by Solomon, a wise man's eyes are in his head, it 

 is to be taken in a second sense, and aiibrdeth no 

 objection. True it is that the eyes of animals are 

 seated with some difference, but in sanguineous 

 animals in the head, and that more forward than 

 the ear or hole of hearing. In quadrupedes, in 

 regard of the figure of their heads, they are placed 

 at some distance ; in latirostrous and flat-billed 

 birds they are more laterally seated ; and therefore 

 when they look intently they turn one eye upon 

 the object ; and can convert their heads to see 

 V. V. p. II. 18 



