Part I. Of the Eggs and Nefts of Birds. 79 
But not being big enough to provoke the Vterus to exclu- 
sion , new matter gather d round about it for another 
JEgg : and was the more eafily Supplied, becaufe fo little 
fpent upon the former. And it may be noted, That Na- 
ture is fo intent upon riniihing her Work, that Ihe may be 
obferv'd much of tener to over do, than under do : you 
fhall find twenty Eggs with two Yelks, or hear of twenty 
Animals with two Heads, for one that hath none. 
From the Egg with the Lump at the greater end, k 
feemsalfo plain, That the Shells of Eggs, although as hard 
as any Animal Stones, yet are not bred, asthofe, out of 
ftony Parts vifibly praeexiftent in liquor, and fo clufterM 
together : but out of a liquid fubftance, not much un- 
like to that which is Separated by the Reins of Birds. 
Of the figure of the Egg, it is obfervable, That it uSu- 
ally anfwers to that of the Body or Trunk of the Bird to 
which it belongs : as the Fruit is longer or broader, an- 
fwerablc to a tall or Spreading Tree. And as it is a Tran- 
Script from the Original 3 So it Self an Original for the 
next Copy. So thofe Birds that have a Rump and hinder 
Parts more Oval and Spreading , as the Duck? or more 
Conical, as the Dunghill- Hen \ breed, and are bred of Eggs 
alike fhaped, wi%. That fo there may be Sufficient, yet no 
Superfluous Room, or Matter, for the Chick. 
Of the Number of Eggs laid at one Breed, it is alfo 
worth the noting, That Land-Fowl, and of theSe especi- 
ally, Such as are Domeftick, and whereof there is conti- 
nually great deftrucTion made , for the moll: part lay a 
considerable number of Eggs for one Sitting. Whereas 
Some Sea-Fowls, ( as Mr. Willughby obServes of the Pen- 
guin , and Some others ) lay but one. BecauSe building 
upon the Rocks, where they are Seldomer deftroy'd, were 
they greater Breeders, there would not be room enough 
Sor the reception of the hundredth part of them. 
The NEST of a little Bird of CHINA. Almoft of a 
Semilunar Figure, and about two inches and ? broad. Of 
a white fubftance, becoming Soft, being moiftened, and 
tranfparent like a Gelly 5 whereinto it Seems to be 
convetrible, in part, being boiled: and by the Gentry 
of China is efteemed a delicate Sort of meat 3 although, 
like that of Harts-Horn, it hath no Taft. Outwardly, it is 
more 
