And in the first Place it is obfervable, that, in every Species of Animals, the Strength and Size of their Stomach (ww) is conformable to their Food. Such whofe Food is more delicate, tender, and nutritive, have commonly this Part thinner, weaker, and lefs bulky; whereas fuch whofe Aliment is less nutritive, or whofe Bodies require larger Supplies to answer their Bulk, their Labours, and wafte of Strength and Spirits, in them it is large and ftrong.

Another very remarkable Thing in this Part, is, the Number of Ventricles in divers Creatures. In many but one; in fome two or more (xx). In fuch as make a fufficient Comminution of the Food in the Mouth, one fuffices. But where Teeth are wanting, and the Food dry and hard, (as in granivorous Birds,) there the Defect is abundantly fupply'd by one thin membranaceous Ventricle, to receive and moiften the Food, and another thick, ftrong, mufcular one, to grind and tear (y) it. But in fuch Birds, and other Creatures,

whose

(ww) All carnivorous Quadrupeds have the fmalleft Ventricles, Fleh going fartheft. Those that feed on Fruits, and Roots, have them of a middle Size. Yet the Mole, because it feeds unclean, bath a very great one. Sheep and Oxen, which feed on Grafs, have the greateft. Yet the Horfe (and for the same Reafon the Coney and Hare) though Graminivorous, yet comparatively have but little ones. For that a Horfe is made for Labour, and both this, and the Hare, for quick and continued Motion; for which, the most eafie Refpiration, and fo the freeft Motion of the Diaphragme is very requifite; which yet could not be, fhould the Stomach lie big and cumbersome upon it, as in Sheep and Oxen it doth, Grew, ib. Chap. 6.

(xx) The Dromedary hath four Stomachs, one whereof is peculiarly endowed with about twenty Cavities, like Sacks, in all Probability for the holding of Water. Concerning which, fee Book VI. Chap. 4. Note (a).

(yy) To affift in which Office, they fwallow fmall angular Stones, which are to be met with in the Gizards of all granivorous

0.4

whofe Food is not Grain, but Flesh, Fruits, Infects, or partly one, partly the other, there their Stomachs are accordingly conformable to their Food (zz), ftronger or weaker, membranaceous

or muscular.

But as remarkable a Thing, as any in this Part of Animals, is, the curious Contrivance and Fabrick of the feveral Ventricles of ruminating Creatures. The very Act it felf of Rumination, is an excellent Provifion for the compleat Maftication of the Food, at the Refting, leifure Times of the Animal. But the Apparatus for this Service, of divers Ventricles for its various Ufes and Purposes, together with their curious Mechanism, deferves great Admiration (aaa).

Having thus far purfu'd the Food to the Place, where by its Reduction into Chyle, it becomes a proper Aliment for the Body; I might next trace it through the feveral Maanders of the Guts, the Latteals, and fo into the Blood (bbb), and after

wards

nivorous Birds; but in the Gizard of the lynx, or Wryneck, which was full only of Ants, I found not one Stone. So in that of the Green Wood-Pecker (full of Ants and Tree-maggots) there were but few Stones.

(xx) In most carnivorous Birds, the third Ventricle is Membranous; where the Meat is concocted, as in a Man: Or fomewhat Tendinous, as in an Owl; as if it were made indifferently for Flesh, or other Meat, as he could meet with either. Or moft thick and tendinous, called the Gizard; wherein the Meat, as in a Mill, is ground to Pieces. Grew, ubi fupra, Chap. 9.

(aaa) It would be much too long a Tafk to infift upon it here as it deferves, and therefore concerning the whole Buffnefs of Rumination, I fhall refer to J. Conr. Peyeri Merycolog. feu de Ruminantibus & Ruminatione Commentar. where he largely treateth of the feveral Ruminating Animals, of the Parts miniftring to this Act, and the great Ufe and Benefit thereof unto them.

(bbb) There are too many Particulars to be infifted on, obferyable in the Paffages of the Chyle, from the Guts to the

Left

wards into the very Habit of the Body: I might alfo take Notice of the Separation made in the Inteftines, of what is nutritive, (which is received,) and what is feculent, (being ejected ;) and the Impregnations there from the Pancreas and the Gall; and after it hath been ftrained through thofe curious Colanders, the lacteal Veins, I might allo obferve its Impregnations from the Glands and Lymphæducts; and, to name no more, I might farther view the exquifite Structure of the Parts mi

Left Subclavian Vein, where it enters into the Blood; and therefore I fhall only, for a Sample of this admirable Oeconomy, take notice of fome of the main and more general Matters. And,

1. After the Food is become Chyle, and gotten into the Guts, it is an excellent Provifion made, not only for its Paffage through the Guts, but alfo for its Protrufion into the Lacteals, by the Peristaltick Motion and Valvula conniventes of the Guts. 2. It is an admirable Provision, that the Mouths of the Lacteals, and indeed the Lacteals primi generis themselves are fmall and fine, not wider than the Capillary Arteries are, left by admitting Particles of the Nourishment groffer than the Capillaries, dangerous Obstructions might be thereby produced. 3. After the Reception of the Aliment into the Lacteals primi generis, it is a noble Provifion for the Advancement of its Motion, that in the Mesenterick Glands, it meets with fome of the Lympha-Ducts, and receives the Impregnations of the Lympha. And paffing on from thence, it is no lefs Advantage. 4. That the Lacteals, and Lympha-Ducts meet in the Receptaculum Chyli, where the Aliment meeting with more of the Lympha, is made of a due Confistence, and Temperament, for its farther Advancement through the Thoracick Duct, and fo into the Left Subclavian Vein and Blood. Laftly, This Thoracick Duct it felf is a Part of great Confideration. For (as Mr. Cowper faith) If we confider in this Duft its feveral Divifions and Inofculati ons, its numerous Valves looking from below upwards, its advantagious Situation between the great Artery and Vertebræ of the Back, together with the Ducts discharging their refluent Lympha from the Lungs, and other neighbouring Parts, we fhall find all conduce to demonftrate the utmost Art of Nature fed in furthering the steep and perpendicular Afcent of the Chyle. Anat. Introduct

niftring

niftring to all thefe delicate Offices of Nature; particularly the artificial Conformation of the Inteftines might deferve a fpecial Enquiry, their Tu- nicks, Glands, Fibres traverfing one another (ccc), and peristaltick Motion in all Creatures; and their cochicous Paffage (ddd) to retard the Motion of the Chyle, and to make amends for the Shortness of the Inteftines, in fuch Creatures who have but one Gut; together with many other Accommodations of Nature in particular Animals that might be mention'd. But it fhall fuffice to have given only a general Hint of thofe curious and admirable Works of God. From whence it is abundantly manifeft how little weight there is in the former atheistical Objection. Which will receive a further Confutation from the

VI. and laft Thing relating to Food, that I fhall fpeak of, namely, The great Sagacity of all Animals, in finding out and providing their Food. In Man perhaps we may not find any Thing very admirable, or remarkable in this Kind, by Means of his Reason and Understanding, and his Supremacy over the inferior Creatures; which anfwereth all his Occafions relating to this Bufinefs: But then even here the Creator hath fhewed his Skill, in not

(ece) Thefe, although noble Contrivances and Works of God, are too many to be infifted on, and therefore I fhall refer to the Anatomifts, particularly Dr. Willis Pharmaceut. Dr. Cole, in Phil. Tranf. No. 125. and Mr. Cowper's elegant Cuts in Anat. Tab. 34, 35. and Append. Fig. 39, 40.

(ddd) In the Thornback, and fome other Fishes, it is a very curious Provifion that is made to fupply the Paucity and Brevity of the Guts; by the Perforation of their fingle Gut, going ot ftrait al ong, but round like a Pair of Winding Stairs; fo that their Gut, which feems to be but a few Inches long, hath really a Bore of many Inches. But of thefe, and ma❤ ny other noble Curiofities and Discoveries in Anatomy, the Reader will, I hope, have a better and larger Account from the curious and ingenious Dr. Douglas, who is labouring in thofe Matters,

over-doing the Matter; in not providing Man with an unneceffary Apparatus, to effect over and over again what is feafible, by the Reach of his Underftanding, and the Power of his Authority.

But for the inferior Creatures, who want Reafon, the Power of that natural Inftinct, that Sagacity (eee) which the Creator hath imprinted upon them, do amply compenfate that Defect. And here we fhall find a glorious Scene of the divine Wisdom, Power, Providence and Care, if we view the various Instincts of Beafts, great and fmall, of Birds, Infects and Reptiles (fff). For among every Species of them, we may find notable Acts of Sagacity, or Inftinct, proportional to their Occafions for Food. Even among thofe whofe Food is near at Hand, and eafily come at; as Grafs and Herbs; and confequently have no great need of Art to discover it; yet, that Faculty of their accurate Smell and Tafte, fo ready at every turn, to diftinguish between what is falutary, and what pernicious (ggg), doth justly deferve Praife. But for

fuch

(eee) Quibus beftiis erat is cibus, ut alius generis befliis vef cerentur, aut vires natura dedit, aut celeritatem: data eft quibufdam etiam machinatio quadam, atque folertia, &c. Cic. de Nat. Deor. 1. 2. c. 48.

(fff) Among Reptiles that have a ftrange Faculty to fhift for Food, c. may be reckoned Eels, which, although belonging to the Waters, can creep on the Land from Pond to Pond, &c. Mr. Mofely of Mofely, faw them creep over the Meadows, like fo many Snakes from Ditch to Ditch; which he thought, was not only for bettering their Habitation, but alfo to catch Snails in the Grafs. Plot's Hift. of Staffordfire, c. 7. §. 32.

And as early as the Year 1125, the Froft was fo very intenfe, that the Eels were forced to leave the Waters, and were frozen to Death in the Meadows. Vid. Hakewill's Apol. 4. 2. Chap. 7. S. 2.

(883) Enumerare poffum, ad paftum capeffendum conficien dúmque, que fit in figuris animantium & quàm folers, fubtilif que defcriptio partium, quámque admirabilis fabrica membro

rum.