Pfalm 90.

lib.8.

which notwithstanding (as men inform us in England, where obfervations may well be made,) will happen between twenty and thirty. As for the bone or rather induration of the Roots of the arterial vein, and great artery, which is thought to be found only in the heart of an old Deer, and therefore becomes more precious in its Rarity, it is often found in Deer, much under thirty; and we have known fome affirm they have found it in one of half that age. And therefore in that account of Pliny, of a Deer with a chollar about his neck, put on by Alexander the Great, and taken alive an hundred years after, with other relations of this nature, we much fufpect impofture or mistake. And if we grant their verity, they are but fingle relations, and very rare contingencies in individuals, not affording a regular diduction upon the fpecies. For though Ulffes his Dog lived unto twenty, and the Athenia Mule unto fourfcore, yet do we not measure their daies by thofe years, or ufually fay, they live thus long. Nor can the three hundred years of fohn of times, or Neftor, overthrow the alfertion of Mofes, or afford a reasonable encouragement beyond his feptuagenary determination.

The ground and authority of this conceit was firft Hieroglyphicall, the Egyp tians exprefling longevity by this Animal, but upon what uncertainties, and alfo convincible falfities they often erected fuch Emblemes, we have elfwhere Hiftor. animal. delivered. And if that were true which Aristotle delivers of his time, and Pliny was not affraid to take up long after, the Egyptians could make but weak obfervations herein; for though it be faid that Eneas feafted his followers with Venifon, yet Ariftotle affirms that neither Deer nor Boar were to be found in Africa. And how far they miscounted the lives and duration of Animals, is evident from their conceit of the Crow, which they prefume to live five hundred years; and from the lives of Hawks, which (as Alian delivereth) the Egyptians do reckon no lefs then at feven hundred.

The fecond which led the conceit unto the Grecians, and probably defcended from the Egyptians, was Poetical; and that was a paffage of Hefiod, thus rendred by Aufonius.

Ter binos deciefque novem fuper exit in annos,
Zufta fenefcentum quos implet vita virorum.
Hos novies fuperat vivendo garrula cornix,
Et quater egreditur cornicis fecula cervus,
Alipedem cervum ter vincit corvus.
To ninty fix the life of man afcendeth,
Nine times as long that of the Chough extendeth,
Four times beyond, the life of Deer doth go,
And thrice is that furpaffed by the Crow.

of man,

the

So that according to this account, allowing ninty fix for the age
life of a Deer amounts unto three thousand, four hundred, fifty fix. A conceit
fo hard to be made out, that many have deferted the common and literall
conftruction. So Theon in Aratus would have the number of nine not taken
ftrictly, but for many years. In other opinions the compute fo far exceed-
eth truth, that they have thought it more probable to take the word Genea,
that is, a generation confifting of many years, but for one year, or a fingle
revolution of the Sun; which is the remarkable measure of time, and with-
in the compafs whereof we receive our perfection in the Womb. So that by
this conftruction, the years of a Deer fhould be but thirty fix, as is discoursed
at large in that Tract of Plutarch, concerning the ceffation of Oracles; and
whereto in his Discourse of the Crow, Aldrovandus also inclinech. Others
not able to make it out, have rejected the whole account, as may be obfer-
ved from the words of Pliny, Hefiodus qui primus aliquid de longavitate vita
prodidit, fabulofe ( reor) multa de hominum avo referens, cornici novem noftras

attribuit

attribuit atates, quadruplum ejus cervis, id triplicatum corvis, & reliqua fabulofius de Phoenice & nymphis. And this how flender foever, was probably the ftrongest ground Antiquity had for this longevity of Animals, that made Theophraftus expoftulate with Nature concerning the long life of Crows, that begat that Epithete of Deer in Oppianus, and that expreffion of Juvenal

Longa & cervina fenectus.

The third ground was Philofophicall, and founded upon a probable Reason in Nature, that is, the defect of a Gall, which part (in the opinion of Ariftotle and Pliny) this Animal wanted, and was conceived a cause and reafon of their long life according (fay they) as it happeneth unto fome few men, who have not this part at all. But this affertionis firft defective in the verity concerning the Animal alledged: for though it be true, a Deer hath no Gall in the Liver like many other Animals, yet hath it that part in the guts, as is difcoverable by tafte and colour and therefore Pliny doth well correct himself, when having affirmed before it had no Gall, he after faith, fome hold it to be in the guts, and that for their bitterness, dogs will refufe to eat them. It is alfo deficient in the verity of the Induction or connumeration of other Animals conjoined herewith, as having alfo no Gall; that is, ás Pliny accounteth, Equi, Mali,&c. Horfes, Mules, Affes, Deer, Goats, Boars, Camels, Dolphins, have no Gall. Concerning Horfes, what truth there is herein we have declared before, as for Goats we find not them without it, what Gall the Camel hath, Ariftotle declareth: that Hogs alfo have it, we can affirm; and that not in any obfcure place, but in the Liver, even as it is feated in man.

That therefore the Deer is no fhort-liv'd Animal, we will acknowledge that comparatively, and in some sense long-liv'd we will concede, and thus much we fhall grant if we commonly account its daies by thirty fix or fourty : for thereby it will exceed all other cornigerous Animals. But that it attaineth unto hundreds, or the years delivered by Authors; fince we have no authentick experience for it, fince we have reafon and common experience against it, fince the grounds are falfe and fabulous which do establish it: we know no ground to affent.

Concerning Deer there alfo paffeth another opinion, that the Males thereof do yearly lofe their pizzel. For men obferving the decidence of their horns, do fall upon the like conceit of this part, that it annually rotteth away, and fucceffively reneweth again. Now the ground hereof, was furely the obfervation of this part in Deer after immoderate venery, and about the end of their Rutt, which fometimes becomes fo relaxed and pendulous, it cannot be quite retracted: and being often befet with flies, it is conceived to rot, and at laft to fall from the body. But herein experience will contradict us: for Deer which either die or are killed at that time, or any other, are alwaies found to have that part entire. And reafon alfo will correct us: for fpermatical parts, or fuch as are framed from the feminal principles of parents,although homogeneous or fimilary,will not admit a Regeneration, much lefs will they receive an integrall reftauration, which being organical and inftrumental Members, confift of many of those. Now this part, or Animal of Plato, containeth not only of fanguineous and reparable particles: but is made up of veins, nerves, arteries, and in fome Animals, of bones: whofe reparation is beyond its own fertility, and a fruit not to be expected from the fructifying part it felf. Which faculty were it communicated unto Animals, whofe originals are double, as well as unto plants, whofe feed is within themfelves: we might abate the Art of Taliacotins, and the new in-arching of Nofes. And therefore the phancies of Poets have been fo modeft, as not to fet down fuch renovations, even from the powers of their deities: for the mutilated fhoulder of Pelops was pieced out with Ivory: and that the limbs of Hippolitns were set together, not regenerated by Afculapins, is the utmoft affertion of Poetry.

CHAP.

τετρακό

saro.

Whence it is,

that fome

creatures pre fage the weather.

Commonly mistaken for the true Hal

cion, ours being rather the Ifpida.

CHAP. X.

of the King-fisher.

THat a King-fither hanged by the bill, fheweth in what quarter the wind is,

by an occult and fecret propriety, converting the breaft to that point of the Horizon from whence the wind doth blow, is a received opinion, and very frange; introducing natural Weather-cocks, and extending Magnetical pofitions as far as Animal Natures. A conceit fupported chiefly by prefent practice, yet not made out by reafon or experience.

Unto Reason it feemeth very repugnant, that a carcafs or body difanimated, fhould be fo affected with every wind, as to carry a conformable respect and conftant habitude thereto. For although in fundry Animals, we deny not a kind of natural Meteorology or innate prefention both of wind and weather, yet that proceeding from fenfe receiving impreffions from the first mutation of the air, they cannot in reafon retain that apprehenfion after death; as being affections which depend on life, and depart upon difanimation. And therefore with more favourable Reafon may we draw the fame effect or fympathie upon the Hedghog, whofe prefention of winds is fo exact, that it ftoppeth the North or Southern-hole of its Neft, according to prenotion of thefe winds enfuing; which fome men obferving, have been able to make predictions which way the wind would turn, and been efteemed hereby wife men in point of weather. Now this proceeding from fenfe in the creature alive, it were not reasonable to hang up an Hedg-hog dead, and to expect a conformable Motion unto its living converfion. And though in fundry plants their vertues do live after death, and we know that Scammony, Rhubarb and Senna will purge without any vital affiftance; yet in Animals and fenfible creatures, many actions are mixt, and depend upon their living form, as well as that of miftion, and though they wholly seem to retain unto the body, depart upon difunion. Thus Glow-worms alive, project a luftre in the dark, which fulgour notwithstanding ceafeth after death; and thus the Tropedo which being alive ftupifies at a diftance,, applied after death, produceth no fuch effect, which had they retained, in places where they abound, they might have fupplied Opium, and ferved as frontals in Phrenfies.

As for experiment, we cannot make it out by any we have attempted; for if a fingle King-fifher be hanged up with untwifted filk in an open room, and where the air is free, it obferves not a conftant refpect unto the mouth of the wind, but varioully converting, doth feldom breaft it right. If two be fufpended in the fame room, they will not regularly conform their breafts, but oft-times refpect the oppofite points of heaven. And if we conceive that for exact exploration, they fhould be fufpended where the ayr is quiet and unwoved, that clear of impediments, they may more freely convert upon their natural verticity; we have alfo made this way of inquifition, fufpending them in large and capacious glaffes clofely ftopped; wherein nevertheless we obferved a cafual ftation, and that they refted irregularly upon conversion. Wherefover they refted, remaining inconverted; and poffeffing one point of the Compafs, whilft the wind perhaps had paffed the two and thirty.

The ground of this popular practice might be the common opinion concerning the vertue prognoftick of thefe birds; the natural regard they have unto the winds, and they unto them again, more efpecially remarkable in the time of their nidulation, and bringing forth their young. For at that

time, which happeneth about the brumall Solftice, it hath been obferved even unto a proverb, that the Sea is calm, and the winds do ceafe, till the young ones are excluded, and forfake their neft, which floateth upon the Sea, and by the roughnefs of winds might otherwife be overwhelmed. But how far hereby to magnifie their prediction we have no certain rule, for whether out of any particular prenotion they chufe to fit at this time, or whether it be thus contrived by concurrence of caufes, and providence of Nature, fecuring every fpecies in their production, is not yet determined. Surely many things fall out by the defign 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 feminality of Ivy be almost in every earth, yet that it arifeth and groweth not, but where it may be fupported, we cannot afcribe the fame unto the diftinction of the feed; or conceive any fcience therein which fufpends and conditionates its eruption. So if, as Pliny and Plutarch Report, the Crocodiles of gypt, fo 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 in-undation, depending on caufes fo many miles remote, that is, the measure of fhowers in Ethiopia; and whereof, as Athanafius in the life of Anthony delivers, the devil himfelt upon demand could make no clear prediction. So are there likewife many things in Nature, which are the fore-runners or figns of future effects, whereto they neither concur in caufality or prenotion; but are fecretly ordered by the providence of causes, and concurrence of actions collateral to their fignations.

It was alfo a cuftome of old to keep these birds in chefts, upon opinion that they prevented Moths; whether it were not firft hang'd up in Rooms to fuch effects, is not beyond all doubt. Or whether we mistake not the posture of fufpenfion, 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 fo hath Kircherus defcribed the Orbis and the Sea Swallow. But the eldest custome of hanging up thefe 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.

CHAP. XI.
of Griffins:

in

Hat there are Griffins in Nature, that is a mixt and dubious Animal, the fore-part refembling an Eagle, and behind, the shape of a Lion, with erected ears, four feet, and a long tail, many affirm, and moft, I perceive, deny not. The fame is averred by Alian, Solinus, Mela and Herodotus, countenanced by the Name fometimes found in Scripture, and was an Hieroglyphick', of the Ægyptians.

Notwithstanding we find moft diligent enquirers to be of a contrary affertion. For befide that Albertus and Pliny have difallowed it, the learned Aldrovandus hath in a large difcourfe rejected it; Mathias Michovins who writ of those Northern parts wherein men place thefe Griffins, hath pofitively concluded against it, and if examined by the Doctrine of Animals, the invention is Monftrous, nor much inferiour unto the figment of Sphynx, Chimera and Harpies,

for

Levit. 11.

For though there be fome flying Animals of mixed and participating Natures, that is, between bird and quadruped, yet are their wings and legs fo fer together, that they seem to make each other; there being a commixtion of both, rather then an adaptation or cement of prominent parts unto each other; as is obfervable in the Bat, whofe wings and fore-legs are contrived in each other. For though fome fpecies there be of middle and participating Natures, that is, of bird and beast, as Bats and fome few others, yet are their parts fo conformed and fet together, that we cannot define the beginning or end of either; there being a commixtion of both in the whole, rather then an adaptation or cement of the one unto the other.

Now for the word or Gryps fometimes mentioned in Scripture, and frequently in humane Authors, properly understood, it fignifies fome kind of Eagle or Vulture, from whence the Epichete Grypus for an hooked or Aqui- ! line Nofe. Thus when the Septuagint makes use of this word, Tremellius and our Translation hath rendred it the Offifrage, which is one kind of Eagle. And although the Vulgar tranflation, and that annexed unto the Septuagint retain the word Gryps, which in ordinary and school-conftruction is commonly rendred a Griffin; yet cannot the Latine affume any other fenfe then the Greek, from whence it is borrowed. And though the Latine Gryphes be altered fomewhat by the addition of an h, or afpiration of the letter, yet is not this unufuall, fo what the Greeks call, the Latines will call Tropheum, and that perfon which in the Gofpel is named Katonas, the Latines will render Cleophas. And therefore the quarrel of Origen was injuft, and his conception erroneous, when he conceived the food of Griffins forbidden by the Law of Moses: that is, Poetical Animals, and things of no existence. And therefore when in the Hecatoms and mighty Oblations of the Gentiles, it is delivered they facrificed Gryphes or Griffins, hereby we may understand fome ftronger fort of Eagles. And therefore alfo when its faid in Virgil of an improper Match, or Mopfus marrying Nyfa, Jungentur jam gryphes equis; we need not hunt after other fenfe, then that strange unions fhall be made, and different Natures be conjoined together.

,"

As for the teftimonies of ancient Writers, they are but derivative, and terminate all in one Ariftens a Poet of Preconefus; who affirmed that neer the Arimafpi, or one-eyed Nation, Griffins defended the Mines of Gold. But this as Herodotus delivereth, he wrote by hearfay; and Michovius who hath exprefly written of those parts, plainly affirmeth, there is neither Gold nor Griffins in that Countrey, nor any fuch Animal extant; for fo doth he conclude, Ego vero contra veteres authores, Gryphes nec in illa feptentrionis, nec in aliis orbis partibus inveniri affirmarim.

Laftly, Concerning the Hieroglyphical authority, although it neereft approacheth the truth, it doth not infer its exiftency. The conceit of the Griffin properly taken being but a fymbolical phancy; in fo intollerable a fhape including allowable morality. So doth it well make out the properties of a Guardian, or any perfon enturfted; the ears implying attention, the wings celerity of execution, the Lion-like fhape, courage and audacity, the hooked bill, refervance and tenacity. It is alfo an Embleme of valour and magnanimity, as being compounded of the Eagle and Lion, the nobleft animals in their kinds, and fo is it appliable unto Princes, Presidents, Generals, and all heroick Commanders; and fo is it alfo born in the Coat-arms of many noble Families of Europe.

But the original invention feemes to be Hieroglyphical, derived from the Ægyptians, and of an higher fignification. By the myftical conjunction of Hawk and Lyon,implying either the Genial or the fyderous fun, the great celerity thereof, and the strength and vigour in its operations. And therefore under fuch