Memoir's for a natural history of animals containing the anatomical descriptions of several creatures dissected by the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris / Englished by Alexander Pitfeild ... ; to which is added an account of the measure of a degree of a great circle of the earth, published by the same Academy and Englished by Richard Waller ...

THE ANATOMICAL DESCRIPTION OF SIX DEMOISELLES OF NUMIDIA.

THis Bird is so called, by reason of certain ways of Acting that it has, wherein it seems to imitate the Gestures of a Woman, who affects a Grace in her Walking, Obeissances, and Dansing. This resemblance must be thought to have some reasonable ground, seeing that for above two Thou∣sand Years the Authors which according to our Conjectures, have treated of this Bird, have designed it by this Particularity of the imitation of the Gestures and Behaviours of Man. Aristotle gives to it the Name of Actor or Comedian-Pliny calls it Parasite and Danser. Athenaeus Names it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is to say, having humane Form, by reason that it imitates what it sees Men do, and not because that it imitates the Speech of Man like the Parrot, as Gellius understands it. For Athenaeus relates the manner, which as Xenophon reports it, the Fowlers make use of to take these Birds, which is by rubbing their Eyes in their Presence, with Water put into Vessels which they do carry away, leaving such like Vessels filled with Glue, wherewith these Birds do glue their Feet and Eyes, when they endeavour to imitate what they have seen other done.

It is probable that this Dansing or Buffoon Bird, was rare amongst the An∣cients, because Pliny thinks it fabulous, by ranging this Animal, which he calls Satyrick, amongst the Pegasus's, Griffons, and Syren's. It is likewise cre∣dible, that till this time it was unknown to the Moderns, seeing that they have not spoke thereof as having seen it, but only as having read in the Wri∣tings

of the Ancients the Description of a Bird called by the Greeks, Scops and Otus, and by the Latins Asio, to which they had given the Name of Danser, Actor, and Comedian. So that the Matter in Question is to see whether our Demoisells of Numidia may pass for the Scops of the Ancients.

The Description which they have left us of the Otus or Scops consists in three remarkable Particulars, which are seen in the Demoiselle of Numidia, altho' it is not found that any of the Moderns have described it, and that it has rela∣tion to any of the Birds whereof the Ancients have spoken. These three Particulars, are the extraordinary Postures which all Authors do attribute unto it, and which have made it to be called Scops, from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which according to Athenaeus, sometimes signifies to make Sport, in imitating the Gestures of any one: And the same Author says, that Scops was a kind of Danse so called, by reason of the Bird Scops, which was as it were, the Inven∣tor thereof. The second Particularity, by which Aristotle and Pliny have de∣signed this Bird, consists in some feathered Eminencies, which they do put on both sides of the Head, in the manner of great Ears. The third is the co∣lour of its Plumage, which Alexander Myndienus in Athenaeus, declares to be Blewish, and of a Lead-colour: to which it must also be added, that they do say, that this Bird is of Africk.

There is none of those that have seen the Demoiselles of Numidia, in the Park of Versailles, who have not observed their Gate, Gestures, and Leaps, to have a great deal of Relation to the Bohemian Manner, whose Danse they seem to imitate. And it might be said, that they are mainly pleased to shew their Graceful and handsom Disposition for leaping, and that they do follow People, not to have what is thrown to them to eat, as commonly do Savage Animals when they are tamed, but to be taken Notice of; never failing, when they see that they are lookt upon, to fall a Dansing and Singing.

All that we dissected had the feathered Ears, which have given the Name to the Otus of the Ancients. These were Appendices three Inches and a half long, composed of white Feathers, made of fine long Fibres, after the man∣ner of the Feathers that young Herons have on the Back near the Wings. All the rest of the Plumage was of a leaden Gray, such as it is described by Alexander Myndienus in the Otus; except only some great Feathers of the Wings which were of a darker gray, at that part of the Feather which ap∣pears, and some Feathers of the Head and Neck: But for all this, the Plumage in general may pass for a lead Colour.

In some of our Subjects, the Head had on its Crown some Plumes erected like a Crest, an Inch and a half long. These Feathers were of this leaden Gray, which was prevalent over all the Body. In all of them, the sides and hinder-part of the Head were garnished with black and shorter Feathers than the rest. From the Canthus or Corner of each Eye, there went a streak of white Feathers, that passed under the Appendex, which formed the great feathered Ears. The fore-part of the Neck was adorned with black Fea∣thers, composed of long Fibres, much finer and softer than those of the Criel Heron; they hung down upon the Stomach, about Nine Inches long, with a very great Grace and Decorum.

From the end of the Beak to the extremity of the Leggs extended there were three Foot and a half. The Beak measured two Inches in length; it

was strait and pointed. The Neck was fourteen Inches. From the Thigh Bone to the extremity of the greatest Toe, was ten Inches.

The Eyes were large, having the Eye-lids black. The internal Eye-lid was white, interspersed with a great many blood Vessels.

The Leggs were covered on the foreside with great •…•…cales, which were five Lines long and four broad: on the inside they were garnished with small Scales of an Hexagonal Figure. The •…•…ole of the foot was speckled like Chagrin. The Talons were black, and moderately crooked. The greatest Toe, which was that of the middle, had four Phalanges; the least which was on the outside had five; the middling one that was on the inside, three; that behind but one.

The Liver was so large in one of our Subjects, that it filled almost the whole capacity of the lower Belly. In the rest the right Lobe was only four inches in length, and the left three. In this Lobe which covered the Gizzard, there was a Cavity to receive the Anteriour part thereof, which was sharp, making as it were an edge. In four of our Subjects the Liver was Scirrhous being filled with a great quantity of small yellow grains, like to Millet. This Scirrhous Constitution did in some measure intimate to us that these Livers were composed, as it were, of several small Lobes, each likewise composed by the conglomerating of several Glands. It was also seen after what man∣ner the Rami Capillares of the Vena Porta, Cava and Ductus Bilarii, went in∣to each of the Lobes; and it might be judged that there were some which were distributed to each of the Glands, because that haying blown into these Ductus's, it was observed that in the Livers, which were not yet quite hardned, the little Lobes, and even the minute Glands, whereof the small Lobes are composed, were sometimes raised together, and sometimes apart. In fine, as the sound Livers seemed to have a Substance homogeneous and continued, by reason of the softness which is equal in all the parts that con∣stitute their Parenchyma; they do also appear composed of several distinct and seperate parts, which we call Lobes, composed likewise of Glands, in those that have been hardned by Distemper, by reason that this Induration not equally prevailing over all the parts, shews their distinction: the Inter∣stices of the Lobes and Glands being softer, by reason of some remainder of Blood in these Interstices, of which the Glands were destitute. It must be ne∣vertheless granted that the Experiment, by which different parts were seen separately to rise upon blowing into the Vessels which are distributed to the different Lobes of the Liver, affords a Conjecture more certain, to conclude that the substance of these Viscera is Glandulous, and that it is not from the dif∣ferent Consistence which the Scirrhous disposition causes in the Liver; and tho it frequently happens that the Spleen, when it is Scirrhous, discovers some hardned Graines, like those which are in the Scirrhous Liver, yet it is certain that the Spleen is not Glandulous like the Liver: for this may cause a belief that this Argument is equivocal, and that these Graines may be produ∣ced as well by some obstructions which do stop the passages, such as are those of the Spleen, as by the Induration of the Glands, such as are those where∣of the Liver is composed.

We found no Gall-Bladder in two of our Subjects; in the other it was small, of an oval Figure, not exceeding five lines in length and four in breadth.

It was fastened to the right Lobe by its Neck, the rest being loose and pen∣dent. The Ductus Cysticus proceeded near the Neck, and was joyned to the Ie•…•…unum being a line in thickness, and four inches four lines in length: the Hepaticus came out of the Liver lower than the Gall-Bladder, and was but two inches long: it was inserted near the Cysticus.

The Spleen was of a Substance very like to that of the Liver, seeming to be composed of Lobes and Glands, and being Scirrhous. Its Figure resem∣bled that of the Kidneys of Terrestrial Animals, the Splenatick Vessels entring through its gibbous part, after the same manner as the Emulgents do enter into the Kidneys. It was seated above the left Kidney, and between the two Lobes of the Liver, so that it appeared to be a third Lobe. It was united to the second Ventricle by the means of a Membrane that held the Splenatick Branches.

At the bottom of the Oesophagus, where it began to dilate, there were two Glands, three lines long, of an oval Figure, red, and with a Cavity in their middle: They were fastned to some branches of the Nerves of the sixth pair. The Oesophagus was dilated towards the bottom, to make a Craw about fifteen lines Diameter, and six inches long. Its lower part, which was two inches long, was of a substance different from the superiour, its external Membrane being thicker and more fleshie, and having between this and the internal Membrane several little Glands regularly ranged one by the other, as they are seen in several Birds, and as it is described and Figured in the Bustard.

The Gizzard measured two inches and a half in length, and two in breadth. It was very like to that of a Hen, having a thick and hard Flesh. It was diffe∣rent therefrom in its interiour Membrane, which was yellow, hard, and al∣most all separated from the fleshie part. This Membrane being dried did break like Glass, as it did in the Indian Cock. In one of our Subjects there was found in the Gizzard several Stones, which seemed to be worn by their mutual rubbing.

The Intestines were six foot long, and two lines broad. Their Coats were extraordinary thin. Each Caecum measured six inches in length. The Rectum was dilated towards its extremity, where it had a very ample Cavity, into which the •…•…reters with the Vasa Spermatica Deferentia opened, in the Male: in the Females the Ureters with the Passage called Oviductus, which is their Matrix, had likewise their Mouth in this place.

There were two Pancreas's of unequal length, the right being five inches and the left four. They were fastened to the Mesentery, which afforded them store of very visible Vessels. Their Substance was soft, and so light, that the two together weighed but one Drachme. The Ductus Pancreatici proceed∣ed from their upper part. The right Ductus was ten lines; the left but eight. Altho they were inserted in two different places, their mouths were on the inside very near each other, and adjoyning to the mouth of the Ductus Bi∣larii, they were closed again with the same Caruncle as usually.

The Testicles measured six lines in length and four in breadth: they were immediately connected to the Trunck of the A•…•…rta and Cava, being seated towards the upper part of the Kidneys. They had an Epididymis loose from the Testicle, which hung by one end. It was five lines long, of a green co∣lour, the Testicle being of a whitish-yellow. The Ductus Deferens proceeded

not from the Epididymis, but from the lower part of the Testicle, from whence descending along the Vena Emulgens, it was fastned to the Ureter, so that the Ureter and Deferens made but one Ductus!

The Females had Testicles like those of the Males, except the Epididymis which was wanting. Immediately underneath the Testicles the Ovarrum was placed. 'Twas a heap of a great number of little Eggs different in size, some being as big as little Pease, others as small as Rape-seed. The passage called Oviductus, that seems to have relation to the Part called Tuba in the Matrix of Terrestrial Animals, was enlarged at the top like a Funnel which embra∣ced part of the Eggs. This Funnel which represents the Fringe of the Tuba of Terrestrial Animals, was made of a very fine Membrane; the rest of the Passage, whose Membrane was a little thicker, descended along the left Kidney, to which it was fastned by the means of a Membranous Liga∣ment, an inch broad, in form of a Mesentery, which grew along the Vena Emulgens, from which it received several branches, which connected with the branches of the Emulgent Arteries, were dispersed in the Membranes whereof this Ligament was composed, and did likewise pass into the Tunicles of the Passage called Oviductus. This Passage, which was very streight in its upper part, was greatly enlarged towards the bottom, where it opened into the extremity of the Rectum, with a very streight Mouth.

The Kidneys were three inches long and seven or eight Lines broad, being indented in several places after the usual manner of Birds. The Vasa Emul∣gentia, viz. the Vein and Artery, were of a Structure very different. The trunck of the Aorta descending directly, without dividing into two other truncks, did plainly shoot forth on the right and left some branches of a mean size. The first, third, and fourth, which were the least, did enter into the Kidney, and made the Emulgents. The second, and fifth, which were bigger, were the Crural Arteries. The sixth and seventh were lost in the lower part of the Belly. The trunck of the Vena Cava having passed a little underneath the beginning of the Kidneys, was divided into two great Branches, each of which was again subdivided into two others: the one of these branches run along the Kidney, and was there fastened by several very short branches, which were the Emulgents. The other Branch was likewise divided into two others, one of which did also make the Vena Cruralis: the other passing underneath the Kidney, joyned itself to the opposite branch; and both made but one branch laid upon the Artery, which was divided like the Vein, and was distributed as the other into the lower parts of the Belly.

The Ureter proceeding from the upper part of the Kidney, went under the branch of the Vena Cava; and running along the Kidney, joyned it self with the Deferens, to make together but one single Vessel, as has been decla∣red.

The Larynx was composed of a Cricoides, and Arytaenoides as in the Goose.

The Rings of the Aspera Arteria were intire, of a very hard substance, near that of a Bone. Their Figure was particular, each being notched and indented in two places, and joyned together by this Notch, viz. at the pla∣ces which did answer to the two sides of the Neck: the rest, which was not notched, being foreward and backward, so that the notches of one Ring en∣tring into the notches of the other, it happened that the rest of the Rings

which were not notched, did on the fore-part cover the halves of two Rings, and was covered behind with those very Rings which it covers in the fore∣part. This Structure made these Rings to enter into each other, which they could not do very far, being hindred by these Notches, which made one Ring to ride over the other, and made the Artery that it could not bend so easily towards the sides, as forwards and backwards, where there was nothing that might hinder the Rings from entring into each other.

The Figure of the whole Artery was not less strange than its Composition: for after having descended along the Neck in a strait line about the length of a foot, it turned outwards; and instead of entring into the Thorax, it did en∣ter into a hollow Cavity in the Bone of the Sternum, where being descended about three inches, it was re-bent towards the place through which it had entred, and from thence descended into the Thorax, where it was divided into its two Branches. The Rings in this whole Circumvolution were so strong∣ly fastened to each other, that they were not capable of any Motion: neither have they any need thereof, being thus inclosed within the Sternum. The Rings of the part which was in the Neck were looser, to yield to the motion of the Neck.

At the bottom of the Aspera Arteria, there was a bony knot, having the form of a Larynx, which on the inside was divided in two by a small Tongue, as in the Goose and several other Birds. The Branches which went to the Lungs were likewise, according to the usual manner, composed of Cartilagi∣nous Demi-Circles at the top, being garnished underneath only with a very thin Membrane. The round and long Muscles which in several Birds do fa∣sten the Aspera Arteria with the Sternum, did take their Rise from that part of the Sternum which is Articulated with the Clavicula or forked bone, and were inserted into the sides of the Aspera Arteria a great deal higher than the place of their Origine, so that their Action was to draw the Aspera Arteria down∣wards. They were a line and a half in Diameter, and near two Inches in length.

When the Aspera Arteria was blown into, the Bladders of the Lungs which descended to the bottom of the Belly, did swell and raised up the Liver. At the same time that the Bladders were swelled, the Oesophagus and Craw were likewise observed to swell as in Pigeons; and when the Oesophagus was breathed into, the Bladders did also rise; but the Air did more easily pass from the Aspera Arteria into the Oesophagus, than from the Oesophagus into the Aspera Arteria. The use of this Communication, and the ways by which it is performed, are not as yet well known: we refer the speaking thereof to the Description of the Pigeon.

The Heart was two inches long and an inch broad at its basis: it weighed half an ounce. The Pericardium was fastened to the Heart by several small Fibres. The right Ventricle was, as usually, larger than it is long. Its In∣teriour was extraordinary Smooth. The fleshy Valve which Birds have at the mouth of the Vena Cava, was five lines long, and half a line thick. The Arteries of the Heart had their Ualvalae Sigmoides, as usually. The Fleshy Ligament which fastned one of the Partitions of the right Ventricle to the other, was longer and thinner than generally it is.

The Aorta, coming out of the Heart, was divided into three Truncks. The least was the Aorta descendens which made the Crosse, by turning towards the right side as in the Generality of Birds▪ The two other greater Truncks were the Axillares, which hauing cast forth two small Branches, which were the Carotides, were divided into several other great Branches, which were almost all employed and distributed into the Muscles of the Wings.▪ The Carotides a little above their Origine, had each a Gland, which was fastned to them. These Glands were two lines long, and a line thick.

In the lower Beak on both sides of the Tongue, under the inward Tunicle of the Mouth, there was found two Glandulous Bodies, from whence pro∣ceeded several Lympheducts which opened into the Mouth, and there dischar∣ged, being squeezed, a white and Viscous humour. There were two of them towards the upper part a great deal bigger than the others. The Tongue was fleshie at top, and Cartilaginous underneath as in Hens.

The Tunicle of the Palate was rough, with a great number of little Nip∣ples, and of hard and Membranous points. It likewise included a glandu∣lous Body, which shot forth two great Ductus's opening into the Mouth. There was discovered a great quantity of other little glands at the sides of the Larynx, which had also some Lympheducts.

The Cranium or Skull was above half a Line thick. The Brain was divi∣ded in two, as generally in Birds. Each part was eleven lines long, and se∣ven broad. The Cerebellum was eight lines every way. Both together weigh∣ed but a Drachme and a half.

The internal Eye-lid was large, and was easily extended over the whole Globe of the Eye.

The Punctum Lachrymale was double, round, and very large. It opened as is usual into the cleft of the hinder part of the Palate. The lower Glan∣dula Lachrymalis was coucht under the Globe of the Eye in the great Canthus. It was ten lines long and two broad. Its Ductus was great, and opened be∣tween the Eye and internal Eye-Lid. Having Syringed into this Ductus, the Gland swelled very much. The upper Glandula Lachrymalis was very small not exceeding three Lines in length and two in breadth.

The Sclerotica was Cartilaginous before, having as it were a harder Ring than the rest, three lines broad. The Cornea had a border or yellow Circle quite round, joyning the Conjunctiva. The Iris was of a dark red: the Ta∣petum of the same colour; the rest of the Choroides was extraordinary black, We found not that other black Membrane like a Sack, which proceeds from the Optick Nerve, and which we have always found in the Birds that we have dissected, without being able to conjecture what its use may be. All that we could surmise is, that this part has an Office like to that of the Choroides, in that the one and the other do, amongst other things, serve to prepare the Nourishment of the Humours of the Eye; which, by reason of the transpa∣rent purity that is requisite for them, must have an Aliment very pure, and wholly exempt from the gross and Earthy parts, by which Bodies are ren∣dred Opake: for these parts, which may be called the Lees of the Blood, are separated therefrom, and retained in the Choroides and Purse of the Optick Nerve, which are sullied and blackned therewith; this being done almost af∣ter the same manner as the Choroides, Placenta, and Membrane of the Uterus

are sullied, if I may so say, from the grossest and most impure portion of the Blood which they retain, to the end that the part designed for the Formati∣on and Nourishment of the Foetus may be finer and purer. This Conjecture which for these reasons may have some probability, has been likewise confir∣med by the particularity that we have remarked in our Subject; where this black Purse not appearing, we found the Choroides a great deal thicker than ordinary; as if the whole dregs of the blood, which in the Eyes of other Birds should be retained in the Choroides and black Purse, had here been collected in∣to the Choroides alone.