BOOK VII.

A Survey of Birds.

Having briefly, as well as I could, dispatch’d the Tribe of Quadrupeds, I shall next take as brief and transient a View of the feather’d Tribe.

And here we have another large Province to expatiate in, if we should descend to every Thing wherein the Workmanship of the Almighty appears. But I must contract my Survey as much as may be; and shall therefore give only such Hints and Touches upon this curious Family of Animals, as may serve for Samples of the rest of what might be observ’d.

CHAP. I.

Of the Motion of Birds, and the Parts ministring thereto.

As this Tribe hath a different Motion from that of other Animals, and an amphibious Way of Life; partly in the Air, and partly on the Land and Waters; so is their Body accordingly shap’d, and all their Parts incomparably fitted for that Way of Life and Motion; as will be found by a cursory View of some of the Particulars. And the

I. And most visible Thing, is the Shape and Make of their Body, not thick and clumsy, but incomparably adapted to their Flight: Sharp before, to pierce and make Way through the Air, and then by gentle Degrees rising to its full Bulk. To which we may add,

II. The neat Position of the Feathers throughout the Body; not ruffled, or discompos’d, or plac’d some this, some a contrary Way, according to the Method of Chance; but all artificially plac’d[a], for facilitating the Motion of the Body, and its Security at the same Time, by way of Cloathing: And for that End, most of the Feathers tend backward, and are laid over one another in exact and regular Method, armed with warm and soft Down next the Body, and more strongly made, and curiously clos’d next the Air and Weather, to fence off the Injuries thereof. To which Purpose, as also for the more easy and nimble gliding of the Body through the Air, the Provision Nature hath made, and the Instinct of these Animals to preen and dress their Feathers, is admirable; both in respect of their Art and Curiosity in doing it, and the Oyl-bag[b], Glands, and whole Apparatus for that Service.

III. And now having said thus much relating to the Body’s Motion, let us survey the grand Instrument thereof, the Wings. Which as they are principal Parts, so are made with great Skill, and plac’d in the most commodious Point of the Body[c], to give it an exact Equipoise in that subtile Medium, the Air.

And here it is observable, with what incomparable Curiosity every Feather is made; the Shaft exceeding strong, but hollow below, for Strength and Lightness sake; and above, not much less strong, and fill’d with a Parenchyma or Pith, both strong and light too. The Vanes as nicely gaug’d on each Side as made; broad on one Side, and narrower on the other; both which incomparably minister to the progressive Motion of the Bird, as also to the Union and Closeness of the Wing[d].

And no less exquisite is the textrine Art of the Plumage[e] also; which is so curiously wrought, and so artificially interwoven, that it cannot be viewed without Admiration, especially when the Eye is assisted with Glasses.

And as curiously made, so no less curiously are the Feathers placed in the Wing, exactly according to their several Lengths and Strength: The Principals set for Stay and Strength, and these again well lined, faced, and guarded with the Covert and Secondary Feathers, to keep the Air from passing through, whereby the stronger Impulses are made thereupon.

And lastly, To say no more of this Part, that deserves more to be said of it, what an admirable Apparatus is there of Bones, very strong, but withal light and incomparably wrought? of Joynts, which open, shut, and every way move, according to the Occasions either of extending it in Flight, or withdrawing the Wing again to the Body? And of various Muscles; among which the peculiar Strength of the Pectoral Muscles deserves especial Remark, by Reason they are much stronger[f] in Birds than in Man, or any other Animal, not made for Flying.

IV. Next the Wings, the Tail is in Flight considerable; greatly assisting in all Ascents and Descents in the Air, as also serving to steady[g] Flight, by keeping the Body upright in that subtile and yielding Medium, by its readily turning and answering every Vacillation of the Body.

And now to the Parts serving to Flight, let us add the nice and compleat Manner of its Performance; all done according to the strictest Rules of Mechanism[h]. What Rower on the Waters, what Artist on the Land, what acutest Mathematician could give a more agreeable and exact Motion to the Wings, than these untaught flying Artists do theirs! Serving not only to bear their Bodies up in the Air, but also to waft them along therein, with a speedy progressive Motion, as also to steer and turn them this Way and that Way, up and down, faster or slower, as their Occasions require, or their Pleasure leads them.

V. Next to the Parts for Flight, let us view the Feet and Legs ministering to their other Motion: Both made light, for easier Transportation through the Air; and the former spread, some with Membranes for Swimming[i], some without, for steady Going, for Perching, for Catching and Holding of Prey[k], or for Hanging by the Heels to gather their Food[l], or to fix themselves in their Places of Retreat and Safety. And the latter, namely the Legs, all curved for their easy Perching, Roosting, and Rest, as also to help them upon their Wings in taking their Flight, and to be therein commodiously tucked up to the Body, so as not to obstruct their Flight. In some long, for Wading and Searching the Waters; in some of a moderate Length, answerable to their vulgar Occasions; and in others as remarkably short, to answer their especial Occasions and Manner of Life[m]. To all which let us add the placing these last mentioned Parts in the Body. In all somewhat out of the Center of the Body’s Gravity[n], but in such as swim, more than in others, for the better rowing their Bodies through the Waters, or to help them in that Diving[o] too.

FOOTNOTES:

CHAP. II.

Of the Head, Stomach, and other Parts of Birds.

Thus having dispatched the Parts principally concerned in the Motion of the Feather’d Tribe, let us proceed to some other Parts not yet animadverted upon. And we will begin with the Head, concerning which I have already taken notice of its Shape for making way through the Air; of the make of the Bill, for gathering Food, and other Uses; the commodious Situation of the Eye; and I might add that of the Ear too, which would be in the way, and obstruct Flight, if ’twas like that of most other Animals: Also I might say a great deal of the Conformation of the Brain, and of the Parts therein wanting, and of others added, like to what is observable in Fishes; whose Posture in the Waters resembles that of Birds in the Air[a], and both very different from Man and Beasts; and lastly, to hint at no more, I might survey the peculiar Structure of the Larynx[b], the Tongue[c], the inner Ear[d], and many Matters besides; but for a Sample, I shall only insist upon the wonderful Provision in the Bill for the judging of the Food, and that is by peculiar Nerves lodged therein for that Purpose; small and less numerous in such as have the Assistance of another Sense, the Eye; but large, more numerous, and thickly branched about, to the very End of the Beak, in such as hunt for their Food out of Sight in the Waters, in Mud, or under Ground[e].

And now from the Head and Mouth, pass we to its near Ally, the Stomach, another no less notable than useful Part; whether we consider the Elegancy of its Fibres and Muscles, or its Multiplicity; one to soften and macerate, another to digest; or its Variety, suited to various Foods, some membraneous, agreeable to the frugivorous, or carnivorous Kind; same musculous and strong[f], suited to the Comminution, and grinding of Corn and Grain, and so to supply the Defect of Teeth.

And now to this Specimen of the Parts, I might add many other Things, no less curiously contriv’d, made and suited to the Occasions of these Volatiles; as particularly the Stratum and Lodgment of the Lungs[g]; the Configuration of the Breast, and its Bone, made like a Keel, for commodious Passage through the Air, to bear the large and strong Muscles, which move the Wings, and to counterpoise the Body, and support and rest it upon at roost. The Neck also might deserve our Notice, always either exactly proportion’d to the Length of the Legs, or else longer, to hunt out Food, to search in the Waters[h]; as also to counterpoise the Body in Flight[i]. And lastly, I might here take Notice of the Defect of the Diaphragm, so necessary in other Animals to Respiration; and also of divers other Parts redundant, defective, or varying from other Animals. But it would be tedious to insist upon all; and therefore to the Examples already given, I would rather recommend a nice Inspection[k], of those curious Works of God, which would be manifest Demonstrations of the admirable Contrivance and Oeconomy of the Bodies of those Creatures.

From the Fabrick therefore of their Bodies, I shall pass to a Glance of one or two Things, relating to their State; and so conclude this Genus of the animal World.

FOOTNOTES:

CHAP. III.

Of the Migration of Birds.

Concerning the State of this Tribe of Animals, the first Thing I shall speak of, (by Reason God himself instanceth in it,) shall be their Migration, mention’d, Jer. viii. 7. Yea, the Stork in the Heaven knoweth her appointed Times, and the Turtle, and the Crane, and the Swallow observe the Time of their Coming; but my People, &c.

In which Act of Migration, there are two Things to me, exceedingly notable. One is what the Text speaks of, their knowing their proper Times for their Passage, when to come[a], when to go; as also that some should come when others go; and some others go when these come. There is no doubt but the Temperature of the Air, as to Heat and Cold, and their natural Propensity to breed their Young; may be great Incentives to those Creatures to change their Habitation: But yet it is a very odd Instinct, that they should at all shift their Habitation: That some certain Place is not to be found in all the terraqueous Globe, affording them convenient Food and Habitation all the Year, either in the colder Climes, for such as Delight in the colder Regions, or the hotter, for such Birds of Passage as fly to us in Summer.

Also it is somewhat strange, that those untaught, unthinking Creatures, should so exactly know the best and only proper Seasons to go and come. This gives us good Reason to interpret the ‎‏מועדיה‏‎ appointed times[b], in the Text, to be such Times as the Creator hath appointed those Animals, and hath accordingly, for this End, imprinted upon their Natures such an Instinct, as exciteth and moveth them thus, at proper Times, to fly from a Place that would obstruct their Generation, or not afford convenient Food for them, and their Young, and betake themselves to another Place, affording all that is wanting for Food or Incubation.

And this leads me to another Thing remarkable in this Act of Migration; and that is, That those unthinking Creatures should know what Way to steer their Course[c] and whither to go. What but the great Creator’s Instinct should ever move a poor foolish Bird, to venture over vast Tracts of Land, but especially over large Seas? If it should be said, That by their high Ascents up into the Air, they can see cross the Seas; yet what should teach or persuade them, that that Land is more proper for their Purpose, than this? That Britain, (for Instance,) should afford them better Accommodations than Ægypt[d], than the Canaries, than Spain, or any of those many intermediate Places over which some of them probably fly.

And lastly, to all this, let us briefly add the Accommodations these Birds of Passage have, to enable them to take such long Flights, viz. the Length of their Wings, or their more than ordinary Strength[e] for Flight.

FOOTNOTES:

CHAP. IV.

Of the Incubation of Birds.

Another Thing relating to the State of this Tribe of Animals, is their Incubation.

And first, the Egg it self deserves our Notice. Its Parts within, and its crusty Coat without, are admirably well fitted for the Business of Incubation. That there should be one Part provided for the Formation of the Body[a], before its Exit into the World, and another for its Nourishment, after it is come into the World, till the Bird is able to shift for, and help it self; and that these Parts should be so accurately brac’d, and kept in due Place[b], is certainly a design’d, as well as curious Piece of Workmanship.

And then as to the Act it self, of Incubation, What a prodigious Instinct is it in all, or almost all the several Species of Birds, that they, and only they, of all Creatures, should betake themselves to this very Way of Generation? How should they be aware that their Eggs contain their Young, and that their Production is in their Power[c]? What should move them to betake themselves to their Nests, and there with Delight and Patience to abide the due Number of Days? And when their Young are gotten into the World, I have already shewn how admirable their Art, their Care, and Στοργὴ is in bringing them up until, and only until, they are able to shift for themselves.

And lastly, when almost the whole Tribe of Birds, do thus by Incubation, produce their Young, it is a wonderful Deviation, that some few Families only, should do it in a more novercal Way[d], without any Care or Trouble at all, only by laying their Eggs in the Sand, exposed to the Heat and Incubation of the Sun. Of this the Holy Scripture it self gives us an Instance in the Ostrich: Of which we have an Hint, Lam. iv. 3. The Daughter of my People is become cruel, like the Ostriches in the Wilderness. This is more plainly expressed in Job xxxix. 14, 15, 16, 17. [The Ostrich] leaveth her Eggs in the Earth, and warmeth them in the Dust, and forgetteth that the Foot may crush them, or that the Wild-Beast may break them. She is hardened against her Young ones, as though they were not hers: Her Labour is in vain, without Fear. Because God hath deprived her of Wisdom, neither hath he imparted unto her Understanding. In which Words I shall take notice of three Things, 1. Of this anomalous Way of Generation. It is not very strange, that no other Incubation but that of the Sun, should produce the Young; but ’tis very odd and wonderful that any one Species should vary from all the rest of the Tribe. But above all, 2. The singular Care of the Creator, in this Case, is very remarkable, in supplying some other Way the Want of the Parent-Animals Care and Στοργὴ[e], so that the Young should notwithstanding be bred up in those large and barren Desarts of Arabia and Africa, and such like Places where those Birds dwell, the most unlikely and unfitting (in all human Opinion) to afford Sustenance to young helpless Creatures; but the fittest therefore to give Demonstrations of the Wisdom, Care, and especial Providence of the infinite Creator and Conservator of the World. 3. The last Thing I shall remark is, That the Instincts of Irrational Animals, at least of this specified in the Text, is attributed to God. For the Reason the Text gives why the Ostrich is hardened against her young Ones, as though they were not hers, is, Because GOD hath deprived her of Wisdom, and not imparted Understanding to her; i.e. he hath denied her that Wisdom, he hath not imparted that Understanding, that Στοργὴ, that natural Instinct to provide for, and nurse up her Young, that most other Creatures of the same, and other Tribes are endowed with.

Thus I have dispatched what I intend to insist upon concerning the State of this Set of Animals; of which, as also of their admirable Instincts, a great deal more might deserve our especial Observation; particularly the admirable Curiosity, Art, and Variety of Nidification[f], used among the various Species of Birds; the great Sagacity, and many Artifices used by them in the Investigation and Capture of their Prey[g], the due Proportion of the more and less useful, the Scarcity of the Voracious and Pernicious, and the Plenty of the Mansuete and Useful[h]. Also the Variety of their Motion and Flight might deserve Consideration, the Swiftness of such whose Food is to be sought in far distant Places, and different Seasons[i]; the slower Motion and short Flights of others more domestick; and even the Aukwardness of some others to Flight, whose Food is near at hand, and to be gotten without any great Occasion of Flight[k]. These and divers other such like Things as these, I say, I might have spoken more largely unto; but I shall pass them by with only a bare Mention, having already taken notice of them in the Company of other Matters of the like Nature, and manifested them to be Acts of excellent Design, Wisdom, and Providence, in the great Creator.

FOOTNOTES:

CHAP. V.

The Conclusion.

And now, if we reflect upon the whole Matter, we shall here find another large Tribe of the Creation, abundantly setting forth the Wisdom and Glory of their great Creator. We praise the Ingenuity and Invention of Man, for the Contrivance of various pneumatick Engines; we think them witty, even for their unsuccessful Attempts to swim in, and sail through that subtle Element the Air; and the curious Mechanism of that Artist is had in Remembrance, and praised to this Day, who made a Dove, or an Eagle[a] to fly but a short Space. And is not therefore all imaginable Honour and Praise due to that infinite Artist, that hath so admirably contrived and made, all the noble Variety of Birds; that hath with such incomparable Curiosity and Art, formed their Bodies from Head to Tail, without and within, that not so much as any Muscle, or Bone, no, not even a Feather[b] is unartificially made, misplaced, redundant, or defective, in all the several Families of this large Tribe? But every Thing is so incomparably performed, so nicely fitted up for Flight, as to surpass even the Imitation of the most ingenious Artificer among mortal rational Beings.

FOOTNOTES: