Thirteen books of natural philosophy viz. I. Of the principles, and common adjuncts of all natural bodies. II. Of the heavens, the world, and elements. III. Of action, passion, generation, and corruption. IV. Of meteors. V. Of minerals and metals. VI. Of the soul in general, and of things vegetable. VII. Of animals or living creatures. VIII. Of man. Unto which is added five books more of natural philosophy in several discourses. IX. Discourses [illegible] principles of natural things. X. Dis. 2. Concerning the occult and hidden qualities. XI. Dis. 3. Of atomes and mixture. XII. Dis 4. Of the generation of live things. XIII. Dis. 5. Concerning the spontaneous generation of live things. Written in Latin and English. By Daniel Sennert, doctor of physick. Nicholas Culpeper, physitian and astrologer. Abdiah Cole, doctor of physick, and the liberal arts.

Chap. 10. Of the Differences of Living Creatures.

HAving spoken of the Form of Bruit Beasts, we should now speak of their Bodies. But forasmuch as Man of al Animals or living things (for we trouble not our selves whether these terms do differ, of which see Scaliger, Exercit. 216.) is the most perfect; and in eve∣ry kind the more imperfect are to be judged by the most perfect: Moreover, the parts of al Animals or Living Creatures are not yet known and described; but in the description of the parts of Mans Body Anatomists have been as diligent as can be imagined: Such things as should have been said of the pirts of Living Creatures in general, must he setcht from the Hi∣story of the p••••••s of Man; and such things wherein the parts of other Creatures differ from those of Man, must be taken into consideration. We shal here therefore treat rather of the differences of Ammals; where also some things wil fal in our way as touching their parts. And seeing every living Creature consists of a Soul and a Body, we wil weigh and consider the chief differences which slow both from the Soul, and from the Body, and from the whol Creature, consisting and made up of both.

And first as to the Vegetative Faculty, three things are therein considerable: Nutrition, * 1.1 Augmentation, and Generation. And as for Nutrition, there is no Bruit Beast which does no•• eat some kind of food or other: for some eat flesh, as the Wolf, Tigre, &c. some eat divers kind of things promiscuously, as Dogs; some Herbs and Corn, as Horses, Harts, &c. some feed on Worms, as very many Birds; and some on Fishes. And of these again, some hunt for their living, and prey upon other Creatures, as the Crocodile, the Lyon, the Wolf, &c. some lay up their Meat in Summer, as the Pismires; some seek their Prey night and day.

As to Generation, Bruit Beasts have doubtless a Faculty (which they received from the blessing of God at the Creation) of multiplying themselves by mediation of a certain Seed, whether it be properly so called, or analogically, in such things as are commonly said to be produced by equivocal Generation. For we find by experience that Insects and such like things, which are said to be produced by equivocal generation, are not generated in any, but only in some peculiar sort of matter. For a Beetle is not bred of any, but only of some determinate sort of Matter. Hence also it comes to pass that Beasts generated of a putrid substance, containing therein a sitting Seed, are not found to differ from other Creatures of the same name. For besides that they agree altogether in form and figure, they do moreover possess the same proprieties, and perform the same operations, and can beget their like.

For living Creatures are produced three manner of waies: * 1.2 Some by a mutual Conjunction of male and female; some out of the putrid matter of a corrupted body, but containing in it a sead fit to propagate such a Creature: and some are produced both waies, viz. both by

Copulation and by putrefaction, as Mice, Locusts, Beetles, Flies, &c.

Moreover, Bruit Creatures ingender after sundry manners; some produce live Creatures, and are therefore called Vivipara, as Does, Bitches, Dolphins, Vipers; some bring forth Eggs, out of which cherished with a bening gentle Heat, are hatched Chicken, Birds, Fi∣shes: Finally, some bring forth a Worm.

Aristotle defines an Egg, * 1.3 that thereout an Animal does exist, not from the whol, but from one part thereof only, the reft being turned into nourishment: and a Worm he defines by saying, that the whol grows up into an Animal. And so Aristotle divides an Egg into two parts; which in perfecter Creatures are manifestly different and distinct in color; but in the imperfecter sort of Creatures they are not seen distinct, but both are confounded and jumbled together into one substance. * 1.4

But of what part of the Egg the Creature is made, is a controverted point. Hippocra∣tes, or the Author of the Book de Natura pueri, saies, That it is made of the Yolk; Ari∣stotle saies of the White. If we consult with experience we shal find it as Aristotle saics; and thus we shal find it to be: If you shal open an Egg the second, third, or fourth day after the Hen hath sat upon it, and diligently view the same; you may easily observe that the Heart is the principal Member: For it is easie to see that the rude Chick is first formed, and in it, first the Heart, which sends forth two veins; and after the generation of the yong Chick, the Membranes which are thereto subservient are evidently seen to grow together. And indeed on the eighth day, the heart is not only apparent, but together with the Veins, being of the same red color, it is manifestly seen to move and beat. On the fourth day the bodies of the Membranes being now confirmed and grown thicker, begin to be less transparent: on the seventh day by reason of their compactness, they obscure the whol Chick in a manner, or cover the same; yet the Heart is seen by its conspicuous red color, as also the Veins, and by its motion. Mean while, the Liver does not yet appear, but on the seventh day there is first seen a liquor or yellowish slimy Matter underneath the Heart, which is the beginning of the Liver growing together, and in the following daies it makes up this Body of the Liver; till which time there remains much of the Yolk, yea, when the Chickens are hatched. And in this place of the Liver for nine whol daies together, after the first formation, no blood in seen; the heart notwithstanding in the mean while be∣ing ful of blood, as also a most large Vein, drawn under the heart, the whol Bodies length. By al which it appears manifest, that the Soul sticks in the Heart as in its Root, and that the Heart is the first thing which lives, and is the Creature as it were.

But of which part of the Egg the Chick is framed, and with which part it is nourished, is not so plain: yet thus the matter seems to go. Much about the middle of the Egg long∣waies, where the Yolk is joyned to the White above, the second day after the Hens sitting, there is a certain whitish beginning, more compact than the rest of the White, and as it were through a glass there is the appearance of a Chicken, the head being most conspicuous, and near the Head a red point dilating and contracting it self: The daies following, from that red point a very red Vein is drawn al along the Chickens back, every day further and further; from which afterwards Veins proceed to the skins drawn about the yolk. By which it may be conjectured, that the Chick is first made of the White; and that the aliment to be turned in∣to blood is made of the Yolk, and carried through the Veins to the little skins stretched a∣bout the Yolk, and perfected in the Liver, which Liver hath also a similitude with the Yolk. Yet if any man shal hold, that the Yolk gives nourishment to the blood and parts nourished with blood; and the White to white parts bred of it self, and like to it self, til the Liver grow so strong as to be able to afford nourishment to al the parts, and that there∣fore the place of shaping is in the confines of the White and the Yolk, I shal not contend with him thereabouts.

Howbeit some Creatures there are, which engender not only often, but bring forth ma∣ny yong ones at a time, as Swine, Hares, Pidgeons, &c but some bring forth few yong at a time, and seldom also. And al for the most part by mediation of the two Sexes; nor are the Sexes confounded in any kind of Creatures, so that the male should be female, or the fe∣male male; which some confidently affirm of Hares. Although it may be perhaps granted, That Hermaphrodites are more frequent in this kind of Creatures than in any others. * 1.5

Secondly, There is also some difference in Creatures with reference to the Sensitive Fa∣culty: For every sense is not allowed to every Animal; howbeit the Feeling, as the first sense, is granted to al Creatures. And those that have only this sense and want al the rest, are called Zoophita, Plant-animals. All other Creatures have more Senses. Nor do we think fit to deny Sight to the Moles; for to what end have they Eyes if they cannot see? For

although they have no need of sight, to see under the ground, yet they have it given them to avoid the light and the bright air; of which see Scaliger in Exercit. 244.

Howbeit, some Creatures excel in one sense, some in another; some in seeing, others in smelling; some in one are more excellent, some in another, both external and internal Senses.

Finally, there is great difference in living Creatures, * 1.6 with reference to their faculty Loco∣motive, whereby they remove from place to place: For every Creature does shift place, but some after one manner, and some after another. Some only in part, as was said of the Plant-animals, which though they are alwaies fixed in the same place, yet they contract and dilate themselves. But others move their whol bodies, some after one manner, others after another: For some Beasts go, and that either on two seet, on four, six, or more, as Spi∣ders; some move themselves by swimming, as Fishes, and some that live both on Land and Water; others by flying, as Birds; some by leaping, as Grashoppers; finally, some by creeping and crawling, as Worms and Serpents, who by contraction and dilatation of their bodies do move themselves from place to place.

Moreover, in respect of their parts, there is a great variety in Animals: * 1.7 For as Aristotle hath it in 1. de Hist. Animal. cap. 2. Parts of Animals are the same and divers, either in form, or sort, or exuperance, or analogie, or scituation. And in the first place the parts by which they take their nourishment, and whereinto they bestow the same, are com∣mon to al Creatures. For the necessity of food is common to them with Plants: which Plants indeed have from the Earth, and therefore sticking in the Earth they have nourish∣ment enough. But Animals (seeing they are more perfect than Plants) they were to have more exquisite diet than such as the Earth affords. And therefore they had not only tast given them to try their meats, but also members wherewith to receive the same, and turn it into juyce fit to nourish the body, viz. The Mouth and Stomach.

Now this Aliment received is in several Animals severally changed into Nutriment pro∣perly so called, or an humor which is the immediate aliment of the body, which when either by Nature it self (the heat in process of time devouring the same) or by violence (as in sick∣ness and other cases) it comes to be consumed, the life is extinguished. Now this Humor, the next aliment of the body, is in some blood, in others a fatty and bloody moisture, like Sames or Blood-water running from hurts of the body; as also the part wherein this aliment is contained is in some a Vein, in others a Fibre. Hence Animals are divided into such as have blood, & such as are bloodless. In the more perfect sort of animals, intended for nobler actions, and therefore needing more heat, this Humor is red and is called Blood. Yet there is in some bloodless Animals a certain red humor which is not blood, but an excrement, as in the Pur∣pura. But other Animals whose bodies are more imperfect, do also need a less perfect nou∣rishment; if moist, an white; if dry, a more obscure humor: which humors having no pro∣per names, they are termed Ichores, and are blood as it were newly begun to be made and im∣perfect. As also in Creatures that have blood, when the blood is not wel elaborated, it puts on the nature of an Ichor as it were, as we see in Cachectical persons.

Also al Living Creatures have an Head, except the Polypus, * 1.8 who instead of an Head carries as it were a Hive. Limbs are wanting in some Infects; in others the fore feet are instead of fingers. The Elephant instead of hands hath his Trunk let down from his Mouth. Fishes have no necks. Most Creatures have Tails, and they are of several fashions, which Man hath not. In∣stead of Teeth Birds have Bils of a boney nature, wherwith they do break their meat; instead of Nostrils they have only two holes; as also two passages instead of Ears. Moles have their Eyes obscurely buried, yet are they not without Eyes. Instead of a Tongue many Creatures have a fleshy substance in their Mouths; and many with an external sharp tool spungy and hollow do both tast and draw their meat to them. All Creatures that have Blood have Skin. There is in all Creatures having blood and heads properly so called a Brain, which on the fore side is divided into two parts. The Seeing, Hearing, and Tasting Nerves, with the other parts which make up the whol Organ of Sense, are found in al perfect Animals. And the Heart, or at least somwhat answering thereto, is in al living Creatures. There is no Lungs in Fishes; instead of members of generation, Fishes and Serpents have certain holes ordained for their seed. Most of the Guts and Bowels are to be seen in perfect li∣ving Creatures; but in the imperfect they do not exactly agree with those of a Mans body, and for the most part they differ in Fishes and Serpents. Fishes instead of bones have a spine. Insects have a condition proper to themselves; for they have a cloven flesh oblique∣ly directed, and somthing of a middle nature betwixt nerves and flesh, which is to them in∣stead

of Bones and Spines. Proper Spirits are given to every living Creature, which the Soul doth unmediately use to exercise sensitive actions.

Moreover there are other Differences of Animals from the places wherein they live, * 1.9 and their Actions. For first, some inhabit only one Element and live thereof; in the Air the Manuco•• ••a; in the Water the Apua; in the Earth the Toad. But whether there are any Creatures that live in the Fire, Authors are at variance. Some hold that the Salaman∣ders and Pyraustae live in the Fire, as Aristotle, Pliny, Aelian, Austin. As to Salamaders they are so far from delighting in Fire, that they are found no where but in places both cold and moist, and they put out most hot burning coals, either by their coldness or clam∣miness of substance, before they can be burnt. That the Pyraustae live in the Fire Scaliger eagerly defends, Exercit. 9.23. and 194. sect. 4. But others hold there is no Animal which is not burnt and kil'd in the Fire; and that the Pyraustae indeed are bred and fostered in lit∣tle holes about Furnaces, but never bide in the Fire, whereinto being cast they are burnt: which is probable. Some Living Creatures live in two Elements, and find their meat in both, as Bats or Flitter-mice, which catch Gnats in the Air, and plunder the flitch of Bacon on Earth.

All these may again be included under three kinds, Birds, Fishes, and Land Beasts. The Manucodiata (a Bird) lives only in the Air: In the Ocean of Brasile there are Sea-Geese which live only in the Water, and never fly out, of a black Colour. In Mare del Zur, towards China, there are footless Birds, which never forsake the Water. The Ostrich lives only on Land. The Hern lives on Water and Land. The Bat lives in the Air and Earth; The Swan lives, but feeds not in all three Elements.

Fishes that live in the Water and Land are the Polypus and Crabs. Those that are in two are also in three; for they are in the Air, Water and Earth, that are in the Earth and Wa∣ter; for they cannot be on the Earth, but they must be also in the Air.

Of Land Creatures which Aristotle terms Peza (which word cannot easily be rendred in Latine) some live on the Land and Water, and seek their Food in both Elements, as Otters; some which are very greedy after Fish cannot endure to touch the Water, as Cats: some live only on the Earth.

Living Creatures are after another manner thus divided. By reason of their Food, some are Land Creatures, and others of the Water. Those that live in the Water, do either take in the Water, or they do not. Those Fishes take in the Water that are fen∣ced with Gils. Those which take not in the Water do draw in the Air, or they do not draw it in. Those that draw in the Air and have Feet, are the Otters, Crocodiles, and such like; of those that have not Feet and draw in Air, is the Water-snake; such as of this kind have Wings, are the Cormorant, Sea-gul, &c. Those that draw not in the Air are the Urti∣ca, and all Shel-fish. But of Land Creatures, all that have Blood and Lungs draw in Air; but Wasps, Bees, and all Insects do not.

Again, of Land Creatures some fly as Birds, Bees; some go only on the Ground, either with Feet or some other way.

Such as pass upon the Ground, are either Goers, or Creepers, or such as draw their Bo∣dies. Goers use Feet, amongst which Leapers are reckoned: But the Creepers by twisting their long Bodies, and bearing on two sides, as four-footed Beasts on two Legs of a side, do so move themselves. Such as draw themselves, are those which put forth their former parts and draw their hinder parts after them and so win Ground.

As to their Differences in the actions of their Life and Manners, * 1.10 some Creatures live in Flocks and Companies, others live single and solitary, and some live both solitary and in Companies. Birds that live in Companies are Pigeons, Cranes: the solitary are all Birds that have crooked Talons, none of which live in Companies. Among Fishes the Runners, the Tuny-fish, Whitings, Makerels. Now Creatures live solitary being necessitated thereto for getting their food. For though all kinds of living Creatures do fly those of another kind and think they may live more safely with those of their own kind, being allured by likeness: yet Beasts that have Scarcity of food, and meet seldom with their Prey, as Birds with crooked Talons, cannot converse with many of their own kind: For as some that meet with plenty of food, live in Flocks, as Pigeons: so to these (and to these alone) by reason of the scarcity of their food Nature hath given both Strength of Body and Fierceness of Mind; and the scarcity of their Foot compels them to Prey upon other Creatures.

Again whether they live in Flocks or Single, some do alwaies inhabit the same Country, some do go out of one into another, and return back again.

Again of those that live in Companies some are Political, others are not, but mind only their own business. The Political are such as observe a civil Policy, which requires that

publick works be orderly performed by all, and that there be a Communion of the Profits ac∣quired; and thus do the Bees, the Pismires, the Doves; but the Sparrows observe no such Order. For though they fly in Companies, yet each one by it self seeks its own livelihood, and labors not at all for the whol Society, which the Bees and the Pismires or Ants do.

Again, some Creatures are Flesh-eaters, others feed on Grass; some are Fish-eaters, others Worm-eaters, some All-eaters that will down with any thing, some have a meat peculiar to themselves, as the Bees, of which we spake before.

Moreover, some live in the open Air under the Canopy of Heaven, others live in little holes or Nests. And some have their Nests above, others under Ground; and of those that live under Ground, some make themselves holes, others shelter themselves in furrows made to their hands. Those that live above Ground some live in Walls and Rocks; others make them∣selves peculiar Houses and Nests. Again some keep themselves in their Nests all day, and at night come out to seek their food, and when it grows light they withdraw themselves into their smal Cottages: others again do what they have to do by day light, and mew themselves up when night doth come.

Again some Creatures are tame and gentle, others wild; and of the wild, some are alwaies so; but some may be and are tamed.

Living Creatures do also differ much in respect of their Voyce. For some utter a Vovce, * 1.11 others have no Voyce at al. Those that have a Noise or Voyce given them, have it to the End to express their Passions or their Necessities. Now these three differ, Sound, Voyce, Speech. Sound is the most common of the three: for every found is not a Voyce, but only that sound which is made in Creatures, by help of the Lungs, Chest, Wesand, and chiefly the Head ther∣of, which is the immediate Iustrument of the Voyce. Now some Voyces are expressed by Letters, and articulately distinct, other some cannot be expressed by Letters. The latter is simply called a Voyce, the former a Speech, which is proper to Man alone: for although brute Beasts and irrational Creatures, can by Lowing, Squeaking, Barking, Neighing, Cro∣wing or any other way express their Cheerfulness, Fear, Pain, Desire: yet Man alone is a∣ble to express all he feels in his mind, with a Voyce made up of Letters articulately distinct, and can communicate the same to others whom he hath been born to live with.

Howbeit, though there are many differences of Animals, * 1.12 they may be reduced to certain kinds, as is apparent from what hath been said. Some are imperfect, others perfect: and the perfect are Land Creatures, Fishes, and Fowls. And if we were to speak of them all, we should pass from the Imperfect to the Perfect, til we came to Man, the Perfection of all Li∣ving Creatures.

Among Living Creatures Zoophyta or Plant-animals hold the first place, * 1.13 because they are of a middle nature betwixt Plants and Animals, for in the shape and figure of their Bo∣dy they come near to Plants, but in their sense of feeling, and a certain motion, they agree with Animals. For they have the sense of feeling, and being touched do forcibly contract themselves. And though they cannot pass from place to place: yet are they endowed with a power of contracting and dilating themselves.

Of these some stick alwaies in the Earth like Plants, * 1.14 as a Tree which grows in the Coun∣try of Pudifeta, and seems to discern when things approach thereto. For when a Man or other Creature draws neer, it shrinks in its Boughs; and when they go away, it spreads them forth again; and therefore the Inhabitants cal it the Bashful Tree. * 1.15 And Apollodorus the Scholar of Democritus writes of an Herb of like nature, which he therefore cals Aeschi∣nomene; because if you put your hand to it, it would avoid the same by shrinking in its Leaves, as Scaliger Exercit. 181. sect. 28. does write.

Also some cleave perpetually to the Stones or Sands; as the Pulmo Marinus, the Sea-Nettle, the Spunges, the Holothuria or prickly Fish. * 1.16 And some stick so long to the roots and fibres of Trees, til they attain their just growth, as the Mytuli or Limpins, which are said to grow on the Stalks of Sea-weed, and to stick exceeding fast to them at first; and ha∣ving attained their ful growth and just bigness they fall from their branches: but they are not generated as other Shel-fish are of themselves.

Next, after these, and the most imperfect, are Creeping things which grow upon live Ani∣mals, either without, as Crab-lice, Lice, Fleas, Ticks which trouble Dogs; * 1.17 but they say that they are not bred upon them, but they catch them as they hunt in the Woods; of which see Scaliger, Exercit. 195. sect. 7. or within, and not only in their Guts, but in other parts also, for Physitians have observed that there is scarce a part in the whol Body wherin Worms do not breed.

Hereto belong those Infects and smal Animals which are bred out of the Carkasses of o∣ther Creatures and out of Plants; as Wormes, Wasps, Gurgulions, Flies, Hornets, Coss-Worms, Wood-lice, Moths, Glow-Worms, Wig-lice, Hors-Flies, Grass-Worms. of kin to which are Spiders, Phalangia, Tarantulae, Scorpions, and such like.

Now among these kind of Creatures the most noble is the Bee and the Silk-worm; * 1.18 the former making most sweet and useful Honey; the latter spinning Silk wherewith the great ones pride themselves.

Then follow those kind of Locusts which John the Baptist fed upon: Nor is there any need that we should interpret the word Acrides so as to signifie the tops of Trees, or any Shrub, or river Crabs; seeing we are informed likewise by ancient Authors that some Nations did feed upon Locusts, as Strabo in Lib. 16. in Descript. Arabiae; who also describes the man∣ner how they caught them: and Pliny in Lib. 11. Cap. 29. who saie the Persians delight in them: and in Lib. 6. Cap. 30. that some People of Aethiopia have no other Meat but Lo∣custs, which he saies they salt and dry in the Smoak to that end: and among late writers Cle∣nardus in his Epistles writes, that at Fez and Morocco whol Cartloads of Locusts are day∣ly set to sale.

Next to these come sundry sorts of Serpents, Frogs, Toads, Salamanders, Locusts: To which are next in name and shape certain Sea-Insects, Flies, Scolopendra, Caterpillars, Sea-Stars, and such like.

After them march the Shel-fish of two kinds, * 1.19 for some have their shels open but twined strangely about, such as the Purple, and the Periwinkle, and an innumerable sort of Shel-fish, whose shels are shaped like Turbants or Steeples; others shut their shels like two folding doors, * 1.20 that they cannot be opened without great force, such are Oysters and others of that kind, as Muscles, Cockles &c. of kin to which are Crabs, Lobstars, Cray-fish, the Sea-Locust and such like.

Next come the other kinds of Fishes smooth and without scales; * 1.21 then the scaly, the Prick∣ly, the Sea, the River, the Lake-fish. Of Fishes (besides others) read Scaliger, Eaeercit. 218. and Exercitat. 223.226.

After these come your Amphibia, * 1.22 Creatures which live partly on Land and partly on the Water, as the Tortoise, the water Salamander, the Scincus, the Crocodile, the Cordylus, The Hippopotamus or River-Horse, the Castor or Bever, the River-Crab, the Water-Moule and Rat. Amongst which there is none that is partly made like a Fish and partly like a four-footed beast save the Bever.

After Fishes Birds must be explained. * 1.23 Now every Animal that flies is not a Bird, but only that which hath blood in it, and is furnished with a Bil and Feathers. Hence Flies, Beetles, Bees, Hornets, and such like are no Birds; as neither the Bat or Flitter-Mouse, which is of a middle nature betwixt Birds and Mice, and may be termed the flying Mouse.

Now there are sundry differences of Birds, * 1.24 which Scaliger hath collected in Exercit. 227. In the first place come Swallows, which fly most swiftly of all others; of which also there is some difference. These beeing commonly not fit to be eaten, neither can they them∣selves in the winter find their own mear, viz. Flies and other Creatures that glide about in the Air: after the end of Summer when flies are gone, they fly from these parts of the world, Germany, France, England &c. unto the shores of the Baltick Sea, and under huge high Rocks that hang over the Sea, they hang mutually embracing one another until the Spring return, and then when the Bird-Winds blow they return each to its own Country.

After the Swallows come the Sparrows, the Mag-pies, Chaffinch, Titmouse, and the sing∣ing Birds, as the Nightingale, the Lark, Goldfinch, the Linet, the Thrush, the Gnat-snapper, the Red-breast, the Bulfinch; also the prating Birds as Patrots, Black-Birds, Mag-pies, Scarlings, Jack-daws, Jays or Gays.

After these come Pigeons, both tame and wild, as the Wood-Pigeon, the Stock-Dove, the Turtle-Dove and others.

And then the kinds of Cocks and Hens, and Birds of kin to them, as the Pheasant, the Par∣tridg, the Woodcock, the Quail, the Ostrich, the Peacock.

Then follow Water-fowl, both the flat-footed, as the Swan, and several sorts of Geese and Ducks, The Bittern, the Water-Crow, the Cormorant, the Sea-mew, with the flat foot; and the cloven-footed, as the Hern, the Kings-fisher, and the rest.

Then come the ravenous Birds, the Choughs, the Daws, the Crows, the kinds of Vultures and Hawks, * 1.25 the Kite, the Buzzard, the Owl; and finally the Eagle, the Queen of Birds. Conterning Birds see Scaliger in his 227. Exercitat. and those that follow.

The Bat or Flitter-mouse is of a middle nature betwixt birds and beasts, * 1.26 being a winged Mouse; which is of a wonderful greatness in some places: For Scaliger writes in Exercit. 236. Sect. 3. That in Catigan an Island of Mare del Zur there are Bats as big as Eagles, which the Natives eat, and they tast like Hens. And that in Caves of Mount Atlas there are Bats as big as our Pidgeons.

And here we must not omit to speak of the Basilisk or Cockatrice. * 1.27 Now that there is such a Serpent called a Basilisk, is apparent from the holy Scriptures, Proverbs 23. ver. 32. Esay 11. ver. 8. and 14. verse 29. and 15. verse 5. Jerem. 8. verse 7. As also from Pliny, Lib. 8. cap. 7. and Lib. 29. cap. 4. Solinus chap. 30. Lucan Book 9. Dioscorides Lib. 6. cap. ult. Galen de Theriaca ad Pisonem. Aetius Tetrab. 4. Serm. 1. cap. 33. although Authors do not accord in their Descriptions thereof.

But whether there be such a Basilisk as is hatched of the Egg of an old Cock is doubtful: * 1.28 Many count it for a fable: But it is commonly reported that there was once such an one at Vienna in Austria, and that the Picture thereof is extant on the wall of a certain house; as also at Bafil and Zwiccavia, as George Agricola relates in his Book de Animalib. subter∣raneis. But there is a remarkable story which Joh. Pincier in Lib. 5. Aenigmat. Aenigm. 23. relates from the report of Dr. Mosanus chief Physitian at Cassels: which because few (peradventure) have read that Book, I shal here transcribe word for word. * 1.29 At Warsovia in Poland it fel out in the Year, 1587. That the Son of a certain Sword-Cutler, and the Daughter of a neighboring Citizen, being both of them five years old apiece, with others their equals in years, not enduring to be out of action, after the manner of chil∣dren they would needs pass the time in sports, and seek hiding holes where their play∣fellows should not find them out. There was not far from the place where they played, a Cellar left desolate by reason the House had been burnt which stood over it thirty years be∣fore; into which by help of the half-rotten stairs one might make a shift to creep down. In∣to the said Cellar the two foresaid children going down, they fel down on the lower stairs and died. When Supper-time was at hand, the two Mothers each enquiring for her child could hear no tidings thereof: And therefore the Wife of the Sword-Cutler sent her Maid our, who having long sought them, at last spied them upon the stairs of the Cellar as afore∣said, and presently she cried out, See where they lie. But neither of the children stirring at al, she began to suspect they were fallen asleep, and with a loud voyce called by name, somtimes the Boy, and somtimes the Girl; to see if by this means she might waken them. But when she saw (though she cried til she were hoarse) it was to no purpose, she also went down into the Cellar, thinking to awaken them by jogging and pulling: But see what fol∣lows, presently also she fals down by the children and dies. Her Mistriss saw the Maid when she went down into the Cellar, and perceiving that she staid over long, al amazed she ran unto the Cellar, and sees the Maid lie on the ground with the children: Therefore she also fals to cal aloud somtimes upon the Maid, then upon the children. And when she had done thus also in vain, and none of the three did either answer or stir, she concluded they were dead. Presently a rumor flies about the Town, and the Citizens come running, but know not what to do til the Magistrates and Council of the City being made acquainted therewith, did com∣mand that their bodies should be drawn out with long hooks, such as they use to pul down houses in the time of fires. They being drawn out were found swollen like Drums, their lips and tongues were swollen, their color was brown, their eyes stuck out of their eye holes as big as half Eggs. There came to behold this sad Spectacle the Palatine N. and an anci∣ent man the Kings chief Physitian, named Benedictus. He conjectured that some most venemous Serpent did lurk in that desolate Cellar, by whose deadly breath the air inclosed therein was infected, and that the weak nature of man could not bear the same; and that therefore most like it was that the children and maiden were thereby killed. Also that it might be that a Basilisk or Cockatrice might there lie hid, which Naturalists say is bred of a Cocks Egg hatched by a Toad, whose venom is so powerful that whoever looks upon his eyes dies forthwith. Being demanded how the certainty might be known, he made answer, That somebody must be sent into the Cellar covered round with looking Glasses, the right sides of the Glasses being outwards: For the Basilisk if he saw but his own picture or image would presently die. There were at the same time two Malefactors which three daies after were to be executed, the one being a Polander, the other a Silesian called Jobannes Jaure∣rus. To them it was proffered, That he that would go down into the Cellar and hunt out the Serpent should escape his allotted punishment. John presently accepted the condition: And therefore he was covered al his body over with Leather, and Glasses were tied before his eyes, which he could wel see through; in one hand he had an iron Rake, in the other a ligh∣ted

Link; finally, to al parts of his body before and behind Looking-glasses were fastened. Thus furnished he entred into the Cellar, more than two thousand people looking on. Af∣ter he had for above an hour searched al the holes and corners of the Cellar, and could find no Serpent, he called upon them to throw him down another link into the Cellar: for there was another Cellar close by, but the way was so stopt up with rubbish that he could not get in; but he would now see to clear the way, and search there also. And as he was doing that, he chanced to turn his eyes to the left side, and unawares espied the long lookt for Beast in the shape of an Hen, lying dead in a certain hole of the wall: which when he had declared by a shout to them that were without, the Kings Doctor had him with his Rake to bring it out into the light, which he presently did before al the people. The Doctor presently judged that it was a Basilisk or Cockatrice. It was as big as an ordinary Hen, its head was like that of a Turky-cock, his Comb resembling a Crown was sprinkled partly with yellow, and partly with blue spots, and his Chotters hanging under his Throat were of the same color. His Back was starred with many eminent spots resembling Toads eyes, the colors of virulent Beasts being every where sprinkled between, but chiefly yellow: The same colors also were on the outside of his Wings: Under his Wings he was al yellow, as also under his belly, where nevertheless blue and green and other wonderful colors were intermingled. He had long Legs like the Legs of a Cock, and yellow as a Quince-Apple; before and behind these two Legs there grew out other two Legs like the Legs of a Toad in shortness and shape. His back; lower it was yellow, and in the lowest part like a Toad in color. More may be seen concerning the Basilisk, in the foresaid Book of Pincierus, and the place fore-allead∣ged.

Lastly, There are four-footed Beasts, which come nearest to a Man both in the parts of their bodies, and the faculties of their souls. And among these are such as chew the Cud, that is to say, the meat which they have eaten, and is slipt into one Cavity of their stomach, they fetch it up again through their throat and chew it over again, and so transmit it into the other cavity of their stomach, better ground and prepared for further digestion: For what Nature hath denied them in the want of upper Teeth, that she makes amends for by this double chewing.

Moreover, all these Creatures have coverings given them instead of cloaths; for some have hairs, some more, some sewer; others have bristles, others wooll, and some furr. Again, some have solid, others cloven hoofs.

The lowest and most imperfect kind of these Creatures are Moles, Mice, Marmots, which Scaliger describes Exercit. 203. The more perfect are the sorts of Weezels, Hedg-hogs, Cats, Dogs (of which see Lipsius in his Centuries of Epistles, Cent. 1. ad Belgas Epist. 44.) Wolves, Sheep, Goats, Rams, Hares, Foxes, Asses, Hogs, Oxen, Apes, Harts, Bears, Elephants (of which see Scaliger, Exercit, 204. And Lipsius in Epist. miscell. Ep. 50.) Horses, Elks. Cammels, Loeprads, Rhinocerots, Unicorns, and others; finally, the King as it were of al bruit Beasts, the Lyon.

Only I must speak somwhat of the Unicorn, * 1.30 of which sundry men are of several minds. Ambrose Parey in the 20. B. of his Chyrurgacy, cap. 39. where he disputes largely of this matter, after he hath brought the Narrations of some Authors touching this Beast, and ob∣serves that they agree not one with another, he concludes at last, That the word Ʋnicorn is not the name of a real Creature in the world existing, but only a Fiction fained at the pleasure of Painters and Writers of Natural History, for the delight of the Readers and beholders.

But in very deed this is an absurd Opinion of his; it is also a rash thing to deny that which so many learned men affirm; and also the holy Scripture it self, Job 39. verse 9. Esay, 34. verse 7. Deuter. chap. 33. ver. 17. Psalm 22. ver. 22. and Psalm 29. ver. 6, Numb. 23. ver. ••.••.

This rather is apparent from those manifold differing Narrations and Descriptions, * 1.31 That there is not only one Creature that beats a single Horn but divers: For in the places cited, the Unicorn is made to be a Beast swift of foot, fit to be hunted; which is not true of the Rhinoceror, which is a thick beast with short Legs. Moreover, the Horn of a Rhi∣nocerote is much smaller in compass than that which goes about for the Unicorns Horn. Al∣so Caesar, Lib. 6. de Bello Gallico, makes mention of an Ox in the Hercynian Forrest, out of the middle of whose forehead betwixt his Ears there grows one long Horn. And indeed there are Five kinds of Beasts that are thus single-horned. 1 1.32 The Ox with one Horn in the Hercynian Forrest mentioned by Caesar; And Pliny writes that such are found in the Indies

Lib. 8. cap. 21. Secondly, 2 1.33 the same Pliny in the same place describes the Unicorn. 3 1.34 Aelian Lib. 16. de animalib. cap. 20. in the third place describes a Rhinocerote that hath one black horn in his forehead as thick as the smal of a Mans Arm, of rare vertue against poyson. Fourthly, 4 1.35 There is the Indian Ass, who also carries one horn in his forehead, of whom Ari∣stotle speaks in 2. de Hist. anim. cap. 8. and the 3. de part. Animal. cap. 2. Aelian in Lib. 4. de animal. cap. 5. Pliny Lib. 11. cap. 37. & 41. Fiftly, 5 1.36 The same Aristotle in the same place, and Pliny makes mention of a Beast with one Horn called Oryx. So that there is no doubt but there are Creatures that have but one Horn: only the Question is, Which of these Creatures Horns they are that are commonly given out for Unicorns Horns? For the variety of them shews, that they are not al of one Beast: and therefore it cannot be known but by the effect to be good against poyson. Aelian attributes that vertue to the Horn of the Indian Ass, rather than of the Monocerote, to be good against many Diseases and Poysons.

But touching al Animals or living Creatures, to reckon them up in this Compendium is impossible; and here again Nature is so vast of extent, that no mans wit sufficeth to take a muster thereof. And the Nature of this work makes us set Titles for Dishes before our Guests, which Scaliger taxes Pliny for in Exercitat. 107. Let the Student of Natural Philosophy consult hereof with Aristotle in his Book de Historia part. & generatione Ani∣malium; Conradus Gesnerus de Animalibus; Edvardus Wottonus de differentiis Anima∣lium; Rondeletius de Piscibus. And those that have written of some sorts, as Andreas Libavius in his Book de Agno vegetabili Scithiae, of the Lamb that grows in Scythia; his two Books of Silkworms; his two Books of Batrachiorum, of Frogs. Baldus Angelus Abbatius, de Viperae Natura & facultatibus: and many other Authors who have writ of Animals.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The dif∣ferences of Living Creatures in respect of the Ve∣getative faculty.
• * 1.2

  A three∣fold Gene∣ration of Living Creatures••
• * 1.3

  What an Egg is.
• * 1.4

  Of which part of the Egg the Creature is made.
• * 1.5

  The diffe∣rence of Creatures according to the sen∣sitive fa∣culty. Moles.
• * 1.6

  The diffe∣rence of Animals in respect of the Lo∣comotive faculty.
• * 1.7

  the diffe∣rence of Creatures in respect of their parts.
• * 1.8

  the Poly∣pus. the Ele∣phant.
• * 1.9

  Difference of Living Creatures from the place where they live. Whether any Crea∣tures live in the Fire
• * 1.10

  The Dif∣ference of Creatures in respect of their actions.
• * 1.11

  The Dif∣ference of Creatures in respect of Voyce. Sound, Voyce, Speech, how they differ.
• * 1.12

  Animals some per∣fect, others imperfect.
• * 1.13

  Plant-An∣nimals.
• * 1.14

  The bash∣ful Tree.
• * 1.15

  The sensi∣tive Herb.
• * 1.16

  Mytuli or Limpins.
• * 1.17

  A Tick.
• * 1.18

  Bees and Silkworms
• * 1.19

  Shel-Fish Purple.
• * 1.20

  Oysters. Lobstars.
• * 1.21

  Fish.
• * 1.22

  Creatures which live in the wa∣ter and on the Land.
• * 1.23

  Birds.
• * 1.24

  The Swal∣low.
• * 1.25

  The Aegle.
• * 1.26

  the Bat.
• * 1.27

  The Basi∣lisk or Cockatrice
• * 1.28

  Whether there be such a crea∣ture as a Basilisk or Cockatrice.
• * 1.29

  A memo∣rable story of a Basi∣lisk or coc∣katrice.
• * 1.30

  Whether there be such a heast as the Ʋni∣corn?
• * 1.31

  there are five kinds of uni∣corns.
• 1 1.32

  the one horned Ox
• 2 1.33

  The Mo∣nocerote.
• 3 1.34

  The Rhi∣nocerote.
• 4 1.35

  the In∣dian Ass.
• 5 1.36

  Oryx