C 494 ) 
And the inquifitlve Italian Philofopher, Francifco ReJi^ 
in his Exper 'menta circa res Naturales, &c. on the fame 
Occafion exprefles himfelf thus : Maxima ^refeilo ad- 
miratione dignum efl t ant am Molem Cornuum ^ Rarnorum 
' tarn hrevi tempore qMotannis renqfct S> crefcere ^i). 
And if thefe judicious Perfons were moved thus with 
Admiration by confidering only the yearly Falling and 
kdden Qrowih o£ ihefe Imallcr Horns of Backs and 
Stags, with which alone they were acquainted, what 
woJld they have thought, had they known of thefe 
vaftand ftupendious Productions of Nature in the fame 
Kind- 
As there fecms to me no fmall Affinity or Agreement 
in the Sprouting forth, and Branching of Deers Horns, 
with the way of Growth in Vegetables ; fb I conceive 
likewife the conftant yearly dropping of them, to pro- 
ceed much from the fame Caufe, that Trees annually 
caft their ripe Fruit, or let fa^l their withering Leaves 
In Autumn \ that is, becaufe the nourifhing Juice, fay it 
is Sap or Blood, is ftopt and fiows ncT longer; either 
on the account 'tis now deficient, being all fpenr, or that 
the cavous Paflages which con veigh it,dry up and cools ; 
' fo as the Part having no longer any Communication 
with, muft of neceflity by degrees (ever from the Whole; [ 
but with this Difference^ that Horns by reafon of their I 
hard Material and ftrong Compofition, flick faft to the I; 
Head by their Root, Seven or Eight Months after all 
their Nourilhment perfectly retires; whereas Leaves and 
Fruit, confiding of a much more tender Subftance and 
a finer Texture of Parts, dro^ fooner from their native 
CbJ Thatis^ Truly it deferves our greateft Wonder that fo iarge a., ii 
Body of Horns and Branches ftiopld fprout up in fo fliort a time, and be ♦ 
Y^jaewed every Year. f 
Beds.; 
