An entire body of philosophy according to the principles of the famous Renate Des Cartes in three books, (I) the institution ... (II) the history of nature ... (III) a dissertation of the want of sense and knowledge in brute animals ... / written originally in Latin by the learned Anthony Le Grand ; now carefully translated from the last corrections, alterations, and large additions of the author, never yet published ... by Richard Blome.

CHAP. XX. Of Flying Animals, or Birds.

I. What Birds are, and why the Eagle is said to be the King of Birds. FLying Animals are commonly called Birds or Fowl; and are distinguish'd from others, for that they fly in the Air. The Eagle is ac∣counted to be the King of them, because of the Strength of his Body, the Height of his Flight, the Sharpness of his Sight, and the Nobleness or Gene∣rosity of his Temper.

II. The various kinds of Birds. There are innumerable Kinds of Birds; and forasmuch as it is next to impossible to speak of all the Individuals of them, I shall content my self to enumerate their Principal kinds, as they are distinguish'd according to their several ways of Feeding. Some are Carnivorous, or such as feed upon Flesh, commonly called Ravenous: And these again are of two kinds, viz. such as have Crooked Bills; as the Eagle, the several sorts of Hawks, &c. Others have a more strait and sharp∣pointed Bill or Beak; as the Raven, the Jack-Daw, Mag-Pye, Crow or Rook, &c. Another kind are Vermivorous, or such as feed upon Worms; as the Nightingal, Wood-Cock, Snipe, Wood-pecker, Titmouse, Wren, &c. Another Baccivorous, or such as feed upon Berries; as are the Thrush, Black∣bird, the Starling, &c. Others are Granivorous, that feed upon Corn and other Seeds: And of these again, some love to be scraping and tumbling in the Dust; as Cocks and Hens, the Peacock, re∣markable for his beautiful Tail, the Bustard and Partridge. Others love to wash and dip themselves in Water; as amongst Singing-Birds; the Linnet, the Ligury, the Lark, &c.

III. All Birds go upon two Feet only. Birds have only two Feet, and those either plain and flat; as Swans, Ducks, Geese, and all Water-Fowl: Or else have their Claws sever'd and divi∣ded; as Eagles, Sparrows, Swallows, Pigeons, &c. Some Report, that the Manucodiata, or Bird of Paradise, hath no Feet, but always hovers in the Air, and is never found upon the Earth, but when dead: But Reason and Experience evince the falshood of this Story. For all Animals stand in need of Sleep, which these cannot take in the Air, especially being always in a hovering mo∣tion.

IV. That the Bird of Paradise hath Feet. And as to those who imagin, that the Birds of Paradise take their Rest hovering in the Air, by reason of the Lightness of their Body, and the Largeness of their Wings and Feathers, and never fall down to the ground till they be dead; I would fain know of these Men, why they do not fall down to the ground when they are asleep, as well as when they are dead; forasmuch as in Sleep all the Senses are lock'd up, and all motions of the Members cease? But that all Doubt may be taken away in this Point, let us consult such as have been Eye-witnesses. ANTONY PIGAFESTA, a Famous Traveller, in the Diary of his 〈…〉〈…〉 then sell to Strangers, or stick them in their Caps or Helmets, for Ornaments sake.

V. Birds pro∣ceed from Eggs. Birds are the Product of Prolifick Eggs, that is, such as have been invigorated by the Male, and presuppose the fruitfulness of the Female. For as an Egg without the Cock's Treading is addle; so the Hen, by producing that Cavity which is in the Yolk, doth contribute likewise to the fruitfulness thereof. This will be the better understood by distinguishing the Egg into 2 Parts, viz. into the Yolk and White. The Yolk is of a yellow Colour, tending to Red, as being nourished by Blood; which is manifest from those small Veins, that are disperst throughout its outward Coat or Membran. Besides this Coat, there is also another very thin one, by means whereof the Yolk hangs to the Cluster, so called, and covers the whole Yolk, and conveys Veins and other Vessels to it, by means whereof the Alimentary Juice is transmitted. The White is the more Outside▪part of the Egg, yield∣ing copious Nourishment, but somewhat of a colder Temperament, and not so easie of digestion as the Yolk: It consists of a fibrous or stringy Matter, and therefore is easily coagulated, grow∣ing hard with the least heat. At the Broad-end of the Egg a little Hollow is found, where the Chicken begins to be formed; and this proceeds from the Hen only. Besides these, there are found in Eggs 2 Specks, call'd by us the Cock's Threadles, in which the plastick or formative Virtue of the Egg is supposed to consist, according to the Opi∣nion of the Common People; but it is a Mistake, seeing they are found in all Eggs, as well in those that are addle, as the prolifick. An Egg therefore becomes fruitful, when the Seed of the Cock is joyned to that Hollow or Scar in the Egg before∣mention'd, which proceeds from the Hen. For it is not to be question'd, but that the Seed of the Cock doth reach the Womb of the Hen, and as it were, takes root in the Cells thereof; whence the Rudiment of the Chicken afterwards buds forth.

VI. The Pro∣gress of the Form∣ing of a Chick, the 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5th Day. When the Hen therefore sits upon the Egg, and excites the Bud, or prolifick part of it by its heat, the strings or fibres become dilated or extended into several concentrical Rounds or Circles, and the Chicken becomes formed by degrees. For the second day of the Hens sitting, the Hollow that is at the broad end of the Egg, begins to be dilated, and becomes a Bubble, the thinner particles of it being exhaled by Heat, those only remaining that constitute that most clear water, wherewith the Bubble is filled. On the Fourth day a Purple Spot, or Reddish point appears, which is the Rudi∣ment and first beginning of the Heart, and from whence a short time afterwards proceed many little Veins of the same colour, but almost invisible by reason of their fineness and subtilty, and which afterwards end in the Umbilicary or Navel Vessels. On the Fifth day there appear in this Rudiment of the Heart, 2 Ventricles, and as many Ear-lappets; and because the Ventricle or Right Cavity is con∣tracted,

when the Ear-lappet that is joined to it is dilated, they seem to be 2 Bladders. The same day, there appears something in the likeness of a Worm, joined to the little Vein, to which the round little Body is annexed, but bigger than it, being distinguisht into 4 Bubbles filled with a most clear and Christalline Liquor. Which 4 Bubbles do represent both the Eyes, the Brain, and the Cere∣bellum or hinder part of the Brain.

VII. What is formed in the Chick the succeed∣ing days. On the Sixth day the Feet and Wings of the Chicken are formed, the Coats and Membrans of the Eye begin to appear, as likewise the first be∣ginnings of the Lungs and Liver. Also the Bill or Beak and all the Guts and Inwards. At the same time the Chicken begins to move it self a little, and to lift up its Head. Then also the Rudiments of the Bones begin to be formed, appearing like so many thin Spider Webs. On the Seventh day all the parts begin to appear more distinct, and so encreasing every day till the Tenth, wherein all its parts are compleated. For the Head then appears greater than all the rest of the Body; and the Eyes bigger than the Head; and in this state the Chicken swims on the Colliquamentum or dissolved White of the Egg. After the Fourteenth day, all its mem∣bers appear still more distinctly: for then it be∣gins to be covered with Feathers, the inwards be∣gin to be hid, and the hinder part of the Brain be∣gins to be pent up in the Skull; the Chicken be∣gins to Peep or Cheep, and being no longer able to bear the straightness of his pent up Room, after having first consum'd the White, and afterwards the Yolk also, it breaks through the Shell and comes forth.

VIII. It is proba∣ble that a Chick and other Ani∣mals, are not formed by Parts, but all to∣gether. This is the Progress our Eyes discover in the forming of a Chicken, because it appears such to the unassisted Eye. But when we take in the Verdict of the Microscope, as MALPIGHIUS did, there will appear to us in every Fruitful or Prolifick Egg (for in the Addle, no such thing is to be found) before the Incubation of the Hen, the first Rudi∣ments of the Chicken; in like manner as some∣times, even without the assistance of a Microscope, we can discern the first Lineaments of a Plant in the Bud of it. This is very evident in a Tulip, for if in the Winter time we view the Bud of it, either with a Magnifying Glass, or only with our bare Eye, we shall not only see the Leaves, which afterwards turn Green, but also those that constitute the Flower of the Tulip, with the Tri∣angular part of it enclosed in the Grain, and last of all those little 6 Pillars, which surround it, at the bottom of the Tulip. And accordingly it seems probable, that as a Flower contains a Flower, so an Animal contains another whole and compleat Animal, tho' sometimes the same be not discovera∣ble, but with the assistance of a Microscope.

IX. How Birds do fly in the Air by the Help of their Wings Birds with the help of their Wings, keep them∣selves up, and move in the Air; because the Air resists the swift agitation of their Wings, and op∣poseth their descent or falling down. For tho' the Air be very pliable, and ready to give way to other Bodies, yet it indeed makes a great resi∣stance, and like the Water, opposeth the entrance even of Heavy Things. For we see that when Boyes skin Stones along the surface of a smooth River or Pond, the Water resists them, and makes them by several rebounds leap up from the Water which opposeth their entrance. Yea many times the Bullets discharged from great Guns are seen to graze along, and rebound from the Water, so that sometimes men that are walking on the Bank or Shoar are sometimes wounded and killed, by Bullets so rebounding from the Water. And in the same manner are Birds borne up in the Air, and tho' they be heavier than it, yet by the spread∣ing and continual beating of their Wings, they are supported in the midst of it.

X. Two things are requi∣red to the Flight in Birds. To the flying of Birds 2 things are requisit, First the spreading of their Feathers, the single Hairs whereof are so intangled, that the Air can∣not enter through them without some difficulty, from whence the resistance ariseth. Secondly, the expansion of their Wings, and their beating of the Air with them, and that either leisurely, as Kites do, or more frequently like Doves, or very fast as the Felfare. And accordingly by the Prevalence of this resistance, the force of Gravity is overcome, and the Body of the Bird continues poised in the Air.

XI. How Birds move them∣selves this way and that way. Moreover forasmuch as Birds do not only press the Air, and hover in it, but also move up and down; it is necessary that the Wings which bear them up, be thrust backwards; that so by the re∣sistance of the Air behind them, they may be for∣warded in their progressive Motion. For the stru∣cture of a Birds Wings is such, that the hollowness of them forward, and their prominence backward, do both concur to beat back the Air. A Resem∣blance whereof we meet with in those that swim, who if they do only press the Water, with their Belly and Hands, without beating it back with their Feet, they cannot move forwards; no more than a Ship can advance if the Water be only di∣vided by the Oars, without they be thrust or mo∣ved backwards. Birds therefore in order to their moving forwards, and passing this way and that way, must beat back the Air behind them. And whereas some Birds fly much more swiftly and strongly than others, as the Swallow, the Pigeon and the long-winged Hawks; the reason thereof is, either the more advantageous make and frame of their Wings, or the strength of their Muscles wherewith they move them, or the proportion of Heaviness or force that is in their Bodies.

XII. Birds are not moved in the Air, as a Ship in the Wa∣ter. We must take notice that Birds do not move in the Air like a Ship or Boat in the Water. For a Boat or Barge being driven by Oars is pusht for∣wards, whilst the Oars thrust against the Water, which resists, in a manner, as much as if all its parts were in rest. Neither do Birds shake their VVings towards their Tails, as Oars drive the VVa∣ter towards the Stern, but do bend them down∣wards. The Tail of Birds serves to incline their flight upwards and downwards, but not side-ways, neither is it to them instead of a Helm, as is com∣monly believed; for it doth not perpendicularly cut the Air, as the Helm of a Ship doth the VVa∣ter, but hath an Horizontal Situation; and when a Bird turns side-ways yet his Tail continues straight stretched out; and therefore we see that Birds fly tho' their Tails be cut off. Birds there∣fore are poised in the midst of the Air, as a Ship in the VVater, to wit in the Center of their Gra∣vity. And like as a Vessel that hath his Oars more swiftly plied on the right side, turns about the Center of its Gravity towards the left: So like∣wise a Bird whilst he beats the Air, chiefly and

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Book. 1. Part. 7. Chap. 21.

G. Freman. Inv.

I. Kip. Sculp.

mostly with his Right VVing towards the Tail, his fore-part by this means is turned towards the Left. As when those who swim, by bending their Right Arm, and spreading their Right Hand, drive the VVater towards their Feet; and by the same means turn themselves about towards the Left-hand.

XIII. The Tail of Birds only moves up∣wards and down∣wards. And that we may the better apprehend how the Tail of Birds serves them to turn downwards or upwards: Let us suppose a Bird AB, whose Cen∣ter of Gravity is C, flying Horizontally from G to F, and that in flying he rear his Tail BH; this suppo∣sed, it is manifest, that the Air, which resists the Tail BH, makes the whole Body of the Bird turn about the Point C, that it may take the situation LK, wherein the Head raiseth it self from A to L; and on the contrary, when the Tail is turned * 1.1downwards to BI, the resisting Air makes the Body of the Bird to turn about the same Point C, for to take the posture NO, wherein the Head of the Bird doth lower it self from A to O.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Figure 60.