killed at that time, or any other, are always found to have that part entire. And reason will also correct us; for spermatical parts, or such as are framed from the seminal principles of parents, although homogeneous or similary, will not admit a regeneration; much less will they receive an integral restoration, which being organical and instrumental members, consist of many of those. Now this part, or animal of Plato, containeth not only sanguineous and reparable particles, but is made up of veins, nerves, arteries, and in some animals of bones ;4 whose reparation is beyond its own fertility, and a fruit not to be expected from the fructifying part itself. Which faculty, were it communicated unto animals whose originals are double, as well as unto plants whose seed is within themselves, we might abate the art of Taliacotius, and the new inarching of noses. And therefore the fancies of poets have been so modest, as not to set down such renovations, even from the powers of their deities; for the mutilated shoulder of Pelops was pieced out with ivory, and that the limbs of Hippolytus were set together, not regenerated by Esculapius, is the utmost assertion of poetry.

3 such as are framed, &c.] There seems some difficulty in determining the precise meaning of this phrase:—but Sir Thomas was not aware of what has been ascertained by the experiments of Bonnet and Spallanzani on snails and worms; and by those of Drs. Heineken and Mac Culloch on spiders and crabs; viz. that these comparatively imperfect animals have the wonderful power (not bestowed on those of far more complete organization) of reproducing parts of which they have been deprived-limbs, antennæ, and even the head.

bones.] As in poll-cats and ferrets, which I caused to bee dissected, and found in one a bone as big as a walnut shaled.— Wr.

5

new inarching of noses.] In the Gents. Mag. vol. 54, p. 891, is an account of this operation as performed in India, in 1792. An old work, entitled Chirurgorum Comes, 1687, concludes with an account of a similar operation, performed two hundred before, at Lausanne, by a surgeon named Greffonius, on a young woman. The physiological principles, on which this celebrated process has been successful, are discussed by Dr. Bostock, in his Elementary System of Physiology, vol. i. p. 450. Sir Kenelm Digby adds this marvellous assertion, that when a man, whose nose had been lost by extreme cold, was supplied with an artificial nose made of the flesh of some other person, his new nose would putrify as soon as the person, out of whose substance it was taken, came to die!"

6

Pelops] So Virgil ;—Georgic. iii. 7 :

Humeroque Pelops insignis eburno.

CHAPTER X.

That a Kingfisher, hanged by the bill, showeth where the wind lay. THAT a kingfisher, hanged by the bill, showeth in what quarter the wind is, by an occult and secret propriety, converting the breast to that point of the horizon from whence the wind doth blow, is a received opinion, and very strangeintroducing natural weathercocks, and extending magnetical positions as far as animal natures. A conceit supported chiefly by present practice, yet not made out by reason or experience.

Unto reason it seemeth very repugnant, that a carcass or body disanimated, should be so affected with every wind, as to carry a conformable respect and constant habitude thereto. For although in sundry animals we deny not a kind of natural meteorology or innate presention both of wind and weather, yet, that proceeding from sense receiving impres sion from the first mutation of the air, they cannot in reason retain that apprehension after death, as being affections which depend on life, and depart upon disanimation. And therefore with more favourable reason may we draw the same effect or sympathy upon the hedgehog, whose presention of winds is so exact, that it stoppeth the north or southern hole of its nest, according to the prenotion of these winds ensuing; which some men observing, have been able to make predictions which way the wind would turn, and been esteemed hereby wise men in point of weather. Now this proceeding from sense in the creature alive, it were not reasonable to hang up an hedgehog dead, and to expect a conformable motion unto its living conversion. And though in sundry plants their virtues do live after death—and we know that scammony, rhubarb, and senna will purge without any vital assistance-yet in animals and sensible creatures, many actions are mixed, and depend upon their living form, as well as that of mistion; and though they wholly seem to retain unto the body, depart

7 whose presention of winds, &c.] The popular belief of this "presention" (faculty of perceiving beforehand), in the hedgehog, be without foundation.

seems to

upon disunion. Thus glow-worms alive project a lustre in the dark; which fulgour, notwithstanding, ceaseth after death; and thus the torpedo, which being alive stupifies at a distance, applied after death, produceth no such effect; which had they retained, in places where they abound they might have supplied opium, and served as frontals in phrensies.

As for the experiment, we cannot make it out by any we have attempted; for if a single kingfisher be hanged up with untwisted silk in an open room, and where the air is free, it observes not a constant respect unto the mouth of the wind, but, variously converting, doth seldom breast it aright. If two be suspended in the same room, they will not regularly conform their breasts, but ofttimes respect the opposite points of heaven. And if we conceive that, for exact exploration, they should be suspended where the air is quiet and unmoved, that, clear of impediments, they may more freely convert upon their natural verticity-we have also made this way of inquisition, suspending them in large and capacious glasses closely stopped; wherein nevertheless we observed a casual station, and that they rested irregularly upon conversion: wheresoever they rested, remaining inconverted; and possessing one point of the compass, whilst the wind, perhaps, had passed the two and thirty.

The ground of this popular practice might be the common opinion concerning the virtue prognostick of these birds; as also the natural regard they have unto the winds, and they unto them again; more especially remarkable in the time of their nidulation and bringing forth their young. For at that time, which happeneth about the brumal solstice, it hath been observed, even unto a proverb,9 that the sea is calm, and the winds do cease, till the young ones are excluded, and forsake their nest; which floateth upon the sea, and by the roughness of winds, might otherwise be overwhelmed. But how far hereby to magnify their prediction we have no certain rule; for whether out of any particular prenotion they choose to sit at this time, or whether it be

8 opium.] This term, used before (page 254) to express the stupifying effect of the gymnotic electricity, is, of course, employed figuratively.

9

proverb.] Halcionian dayes, i. e. dayes of peace.-Wr.

thus contrived by concurrence of causes and providence of nature, securing every species in their production, is not yet determined.1 Surely many things fall out by the design of the general motor and undreamt-of contrivance of nature which are not imputable unto the intention or knowledge of the particular actor. So, though the seminality of ivy be almost in every earth, yet that it ariseth and groweth not, but where it may be supported;2 we cannot ascribe the same unto the distinction of the seed, or conceive any science therein which suspends and conditionates its eruption. So if, as Pliny and Plutarch report, the crocodiles of Egypt so aptly lay their eggs, that the natives thereby are able to know how high the flood will attain, it will be hard to make out how they should divine the extent of the inundation, depending on causes so many miles remote; that is, the measure of showers in Ethiopia; and whereof, as Athanasius in the Life of Anthony delivers, the devil himself upon demand could make no clear prediction. So are there likewise many things in nature which are the forerunners or signs of future effects, whereto they neither concur in causality or prenotion, but are secretly ordered by the providence of causes and concurrence of actions collateral to their signations.

It was also a custom of old to keep these birds in chests, upon opinion that they prevented moths. Whether it were not first hanged up in rooms, to such effects, is not beyond all doubt; or whether we mistake not the posture of suspension, hanging it by the bill, whereas we should do it by the back, that by the bill it might point out the quarters of the wind; for so hath Kircherus described the orbis and the

1 not yet determined.] All creatures know not only the meanes but the times of their preservation: and therefore that the halcyon knowing that at the winter solstice there is such a calm, chooseth that time to hatch his young, as the crowes did in 1652, when the mildnes of January was such, that they, supposing the spring was come on, did build their nests, and as I was credibly informed, some did hatche their broode.-Wr.

2 groweth not, but, &c.] The ground affords a sufficient support for the purpose; for ivy will certainly grow where it has no other, and will cover the surface of the ground, growing among the herbage, and in some cases supplanting it.

3 So are there, &c.] See an interesting chapter on prognostics in Forster's Researches into Atmospheric Phænomena, p. 128.

sea-swallow. But the eldest custom of hanging up these birds was founded upon a tradition, that they would renew their feathers every year as though they were alive: in expectation whereof, four hundred years ago, Albertus Magnus was deceived.4

CHAPTER XI.

Of Griffins.

THAT there are griffins in nature, that is, a mixed and dubious animal, in the forepart resembling an eagle, and behind the shape of a lion, with erected ears, four feet, and a long tail, many affirm, and most, I perceive, deny not. The same is averred by Elian, Solinus, Mela, and Herodotuscountenanced by the name sometimes found in Scripture, and was an hieroglyphic of the Egyptians.

Notwithstanding we find most diligent enquirers to be of a contrary assertion. For beside that Albertus and Pliny have disallowed it, the learned Aldrovandus hath, in a large discourse rejected it; Matthias Michovius, who writ of those northern parts wherein men place these griffins, hath positively concluded against it; and, if examined by the doctrine of animals, the invention is monstrous, nor much inferior unto the figment of sphynx, chimæra, and harpies; for though there be some flying animals of mixed and participating natures, that is, between bird and quadruped, yet are their

It was a cristom, &c.] First added in the 2nd edition.

That there are griffins, &c.] Ross, as usual, defends the ancient opinion, at considerable length; and accounts for their not being now known to exist, by supposing them to have removed to places inaccessible to men, whereof he observes there are many such in the great and vast countries of Scythia, &c. &c. !-Arcana, p. 199.

and was an hieroglyphic, &c.] Pierius (p. 233, E.), on the authority of the Isiac table; of which see note 1, at page 252.

7 of mixed and participating natures.] Modern discovery has greatly added to our knowledge of those animals which form connecting links in the great chain. "There is nothing more wonderful and admirable in nature than this sort of connection between the classes, orders, groups, and genera of the animal kingdom. It is not a regular gradation of being, like the steps of a ladder, according to the Platonic system, nor do we think that it can be very easily reduced to any defiVOL. I.

T