BOOK VI.

A Survey of Quadrupeds.

CHAP. I.

Of their Prone Posture.

In taking a View of this Part of the Animal World, so far as the Structure of their Bodies is conformable to that of Man, I shall pass them by, and only take notice of some Peculiarities in them, which are plain Indications of Design, and the Divine Super-intendence and Management. And, 1. The most visible apparent Variation is the Prone Posture of their Body: Concerning which, I shall take notice only of two Things, the Parts ministring thereto, and the Use and Benefit thereof.

I. As for the Parts, ’tis observable, that in all these Creatures, the Legs are made exactly conformable to this Posture, as those in Man are to his erect Posture: And what is farther observable also, is, that the Legs and Feet are always admirably suited to the Motion and Exercises of each Animal: In some they are made for Strength only, to support a vast, unwieldy Body[a]; in others they are made for Agility and Swiftness[b], in some they are made for only Walking and Running, in others for that, and Swimming too[c]; in others for Walking and Digging[d]; and in others for Walking and Flying[e]: In some they are made more lax and weak, for the plainer Lands; in others rigid, stiff, and less flexible[f], for traversing the Ice, and dangerous Precipices of the high Mountains[g]; in some they are shod with tough and hard Hoofs, some whole, some cleft; in others with only a callous Skin. In which latter, ’tis observable that the Feet are composed of Toes, some short for bare-going; some long to supply the Place of a Hand[h]; some armed with long and strong Talons, to catch, hold, and tear the Prey; some fenced only with short Nails, to confirm the Steps in Running and Walking.

II. As the Posture of Man’s Body is the fittest for a rational Animal, so is the Prone Posture of Quadrupeds the most useful and beneficial to themselves, as also most serviceable to Man. For they are hereby better made for their gathering their Food, to pursue their Prey, to leap, to climb, to swim, to guard themselves against their Enemies, and in a word, to do whatever may be of principal Use to themselves; as also they are hereby rendered more useful and serviceable to Man, for carrying his Burdens, for tilling his Ground, yea, even for his Sports and Diversions.

And now I might here add a Survey of the excellent Contrivances of the Parts ministring to this Posture of the four-footed Animals, the admirable Structure of the Bones[i], the Joints and Muscles; their various Sizes and Strength; their commodious Lodgment and Situation, the nice Æquipoise of the Body, with a great deal more to the same purpose. But I should be tedious to insist minutely upon such Particulars, and besides, I have given a Touch upon these Kinds of Things, when I spake of Man.

Passing by therefore many Things of this Kind, that might deserve Remark, I shall only consider some of the Parts of Quadrupeds, differing from what is found in Man[k], and which are manifest Works of Design.

FOOTNOTES:

CHAP. II.

Of the Heads of Quadrupeds.

It is remarkable, that in Man, the Head is of one singular Form; in the four-footed Race, as various as their Species. In some square and large, suitable to their slow Motion, Food, and Abode; in others less, slender, and sharp, agreeable to their swifter Motion, or to make their Way to their Food[a], or Habitation under Ground[b]. But passing by a great many Observations that might be made of this Kind, I shall stop a little at the Brain, as the most considerable Part of this part of the Body, being the great Instrument of Life and Motion in Quadrupeds, as ’tis in Man of that, as also in all Probability the chief Seat of his immortal Soul. And accordingly it is a remarkable Difference, that in Man the Brain is large, affording Substance and Room for so noble a Guest; whereas in Quadrupeds, it is but small. And another Thing no less remarkable, is the Situation of the Cerebrum and Cerebellum, or the greater or lesser Brain, which I shall give in the Words of one of the most exact Anatomists we have of that Part[c]: “Since, saith he, God hath given to Man a lofty Countenance, to behold the Heavens, and hath also seated an immortal Soul in the Brain, capable of the Contemplation of heavenly Things; therefore, as his Face is erect, so the Brain is set in an higher Place, namely, above the Cerebellum and all the Sensories. But in Brutes, whose Face is prone towards the Earth, and whose Brain is capable of Speculation, the Cerebellum, (whose Business it is to minister to the Actions and Functions of the Præcordia, the principal Office in those Creatures) in them is situated in the higher Place, and the Cerebrum lower. Also some of the Organs of Sense, as the Ears and Eyes, are placed, if not above the Cerebrum, yet at least equal thereto.”

Another Convenience in this Position of the Cerebrum and Cerebellum, the last ingenious Anatomist[d] tells us is this, “In the Head of Man, saith he, the Base of the Brain and Cerebell, yea, of the whole Skull, is set parallel to the Horizon; by which Means there is the less Danger of the two Brains joggling, or slipping out of their Place. But in Quadrupeds, whose Head hangs down, the Base of the Skull makes a right Angle with the Horizon, by which Means the Brain is undermost, and the Cerebell uppermost; so that one would be apt to imagine the Cerebell should not be steady, but joggle out of its Place. To remedy which Inconvenience he tells us, And lest the frequent Concussions of the Cerebell should cause a Fainting, or disorderly Motion of the Spirits about the Præcordia, therefore, by the Artifice of Nature, sufficient Provision is made in all, by the dura Meninx closely encompassing the Cerebellum; besides which, it is (in some) guarded with a strong bony Fence; and in others, as the Hare, the Coney, and such lesser Quadrupeds, a part of the Cerebell is on each Side fenced with the Os Petrosum: So that by this double Stay, its whole Mass is firmly contained within the Skull.”

Besides these Peculiarities, I might take notice of divers other Things no less remarkable, as the Nictitating Membrane of the Eye[e], the different Passages of the Carotid Arteries[f] through the Skull, their Branching into the Rete Mirabile[g], the different Magnitude of the Nates, and some other Parts of the Brain in Beasts, quite different from what it is in Man: But the Touches already given, may be Instances sufficient to prevent my being tedious in inlarging upon these admirable Works of God.

FOOTNOTES:

CHAP. III.

Of the Necks of Quadrupeds.

From the Head pass we to the Neck, no principal Part of the Body, but yet a good Instance of the Creator’s Wisdom and Design, inasmuch as in Man it is short, agreeable to the Erection of his Body; but in the Four-footed Tribe it is long, answerable to the Length of the Legs[a], and in some of these long, and less strong, serving to carry the Mouth to the Ground; in others shorter, brawny and strong, serving to dig, and heave up great Burdens[b].

But that which deserves especial Remark, is that peculiar Provision made in the Necks of all, or most granivorous Quadrupeds, for the perpetual holding down their Head in gathering their Food, by that strong, tendinous and insensible Aponeurosis, or Ligament[c] braced from the Head to the middle of the Back. By which means the Head, although heavy, may be long held down without any Labour, Pain, or Uneasiness to the Muscles of the Neck, that would otherwise be wearied by being so long put upon the Stretch.

FOOTNOTES:

CHAP. IV.

Of the Stomachs of Quadrupeds.

From the Neck, let us descend to the Stomach, a Part as of absolute Necessity to the Being and Well-being of Animals, so is in the several Species of Quadrupeds, sized, contrived, and made with the utmost Variety and Art.[a] What Artist, what Being, but the infinite Conservator of the World, could so well adapt every Food to all the several Kinds of those grand Devourers of it! Who could so well sute their Stomachs to the Reception and Digestion thereof; one kind of Stomach to the Carnivorous, another to the Herbaceous Animals; one fitted to digest by bare Mastication; and a whole set of Stomachs in others, to digest with the Help of Rumination! Which last Act, together with the Apparatus for that Service, is so peculiar, and withal so curious an Artifice of Nature, that it might justly deserve a more particular Enquiry; but having formerly mention’d it[b], and least I should be too tedious, I shall pass it by.

FOOTNOTES:

CHAP. V.

Of the Heart of Quadrupeds.

In this Part there is a notable Difference found between the Heart of Man and that of Beasts, concerning the latter, of which I might take notice of the remarkable Confirmation of the Hearts of Amphibious Quadrupeds, and their Difference from those of Land-Animals, some having but one Ventricle[a], some three[b], and some but two (like Land-Animals) but then the Foramen Ovale therewith[c]. All which may be justly esteemed as wonderful, as they are excellent Provisions for the Manner of those Animals living. But I shall content my self with bare Hints of these Things, and speak only of two Peculiars more, and that but briefly.

One is the Situation of the Heart, which in Beasts is near the middle of the whole Body; in Man, nearer the Head[d]. The Reasons of which I shall give from one of the most curious Anatomists of that Part[e]. “Seeing, saith he, the Trajection and Distribution of the Blood depends wholly on the Systole of the Heart, and that its Liquor is not driven of its own Nature so readily into the upper Parts as into Vessels even with it, or downwards into those under it: If the Situation of the Heart had been further from the Head, it must needs either have been made stronger to cast out its Liquor with greater Force; or else the Head would want its due Proportion of Blood. But in Animals that have a longer Neck, and which is extended towards their Food as it were, the Heart is seated as far from the other Parts; and they find no Inconvenience from it, because they feed with their Head for the most part hanging down; and so the Blood, as it hath farther to go to their Head than in others, so it goes a plainer and often a steep Way[f].”

The other peculiar Matter is, the fastning (I formerly mentioned) which the Cone of the Pericardium hath in Man to the Diaphragm[g], whereas in all Quadrupeds it is loose. By which Means the Motion of the Midriff, in that necessary Act of Respiration, is assisted both in the upright Posture of Man, as also in the prone Posture of Quadrupeds[h]; which would be hindred, or rendred more difficult, if the Case was otherwise: “Which must needs be the Effect of Wisdom and Design, and that Man was intended by Nature to walk erect, and not upon all-four, as Quadrupeds do:” To express it in the Words of a great Judge in such Matters [i].

FOOTNOTES:

CHAP. VI.

Of the Difference between Man and Quadrupeds in the Nervous Kind.

There is only one Difference more between Man and Quadrupeds that I shall take notice of, and that is the Nervous Kind: And because it would be tedious to insist upon many Particulars[a], I shall, for a Sample, insist chiefly upon one, and that is, of Nature’s prodigious Care for a due Communication and Correspondence between the Head and Heart of Man, more than what is in the four-footed Tribe. For this Purpose, besides the Correspondence, those Parts have by Means of the Nerves of the Par Vagum (common both to Man and Beast) there is a farther and more special Communication and Correspondence occasioned by the Branches[b] of the intercostal Pair sent from the Cervical Plexus to the Heart, and Præcordia. By which Means the Heart and Brain of Man have a mutual and very intimate Correspondence and Concern with each other, more than is in other Creatures; or as one of the most curious Anatomists and Observers of these Things saith[c], “Brutes are as ’twere Machines made with a simpler, and less operose Apparatus, and endowed therefore with only one and the same Kind of Motion, or determined to do the same Thing: Whereas in Man, there is a great Variety of Motions and Actions. For by the Commerce of the aforesaid Cervical Plexus[d] he saith, The Conceptions of the Brain presently affect the Heart, and agitate its Vessels and whole Appendage, together with the Diaphragm. From whence the Alteration in the Motion of the Blood, the Pulse and Respiration. So also on the contrary, when any Thing affects or alters the Heart, those Impressions are not only retorted to the Brain by the same Duct of the Nerves, but also the Blood it self (its Course being once changed) flies to the Brain with a different and unusual Course, and there agitating the animal Spirits with divers Impulses, produceth various Conceptions and Thoughts in the Mind.” And he tells us, “That hence it was that the ancient Divines and Philosophers too, made the Heart the Seat of Wisdom; and certainly (saith he) the Works of Wisdom and Virtue do very much depend upon this Commerce which is between the Heart and Brain:” And so he goeth on with more to the same purpose. Upon the Account of this Intercostal Commerce with the Heart, being wanting in Brutes, there is another singularly careful and wise Provision the infinite Creator hath made in them, and that is, That by Reason both the Par Vagum and the Intercostal too, do not send their Branches to the Heart, and its Appendage in Brutes, therefore, lest their Heart should want a due Proportion of Nervous Vessels, the Par Vagum sends more Branches to their Heart than to that of Man. This as it is a remarkable Difference between Rational and Irrational Creatures; so it is as remarkable an Argument of the Creator’s Art and Care; who altho’ he hath denied Brute-Animals Reason, and the Nerves ministring thereto, yet hath another Way supplied what is necessary to their Life and State. But let us hear the same great Author’s Descant upon the Point[e]; “Inasmuch saith he, as Beasts are void of Discretion, and but little subject to various and different Passions, therefore there was no need that the Spirits that were to be convey’d from the Brain to the Præcordia, should pass two different Ways, namely, one for the Service of the vital Functions, and another for the reciprocal Impressions of the Affections; but it was sufficient that all their Spirits, whatever Use they were designed for, should be conveyed one and the same Way.”

Here now in the Nervous Kind we have manifest Acts of the Creator’s Design and Wisdom, in this so manifest and distinct a Provision for Rational and Irrational Creatures; and that Man was evidently intended to be the one, as the Genus of Quadrupeds was the other.

FOOTNOTES:

CHAP. VII.

The Conclusion.

And now ’tis Time to pause a while, and reflect upon the whole. And as from the Confederations in the preceding Book, we have especial Reason to be thankful to our infinitely merciful Maker, for his no less kind than wonderful Contrivances of our Body; so we have Reason from this brief View I have taken of this last Tribe of the Creation, to acknowledge and admire the same Creator’s Work and Contrivances in them. For we have here a large Family of Animals, in every particular Respect, curiously contrived and made, for that especial Posture, Place, Food, and Office or Business which they obtain in the World. So that if we consider their own particular Happiness and Good, or Man’s Use and Service; or if we view them throughout, and consider the Parts wherein they agree with Man, or those especially wherein they differ, we shall find all to be so far from being Things fortuitous, undesigned, or any way accidental, that every Thing is done for the best; all wisely contrived, and incomparably fitted up, and every way worthy of the great Creator. And he that will shut his Eyes, and not see God[a] in these his Works, even of the poor Beasts of the Earth, that will not say (as Elihu hath it, Job xxxv. 10, 11.) Where is God my Maker, who teacheth us more than the Beasts of the Earth, and maketh us wiser than the Fowls of the Heaven? Of such an one we may use the Psalmist’s Expression, Psal. xlxix. 12. That he is like the Beasts[b] that perish.

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