By this Method, they generally want some integral Part, as an Eye, a Claw, &c. which may be owing to a Want of equal Impression of Heat, tho’ the artificial Warmth be continued. There are thousands, yea Millions at a Batch, thus produced in Egyptian Ovens;—and may as well be in Europe, if our Bakers had the knack on’t. An Experiment has been made by a Duke of Tuscany, who having built such Ovens, did produce living Chickens in the same manner.
Under this Section, I shall consider the wonderful Sagacity of Serpents, in chusing their Paths for Deambulation, and finding out proper Receptacles for their Repose and Security in Winter; and that in Climates that are Opposites in their Nature.
In Summer, generally speaking, they are found in solitary and unfrequented dry Situations; others delight in moorish fenny Grounds; and in hot Countries, near to Groves, Rivulets—These, like other Animals, strictly adhere to the Constitutions of their Family, without Deviation.
They take up their Winter-Quarters in Caverns, hollow Places, Burrows, Rocks, old Hedges, and under the Roots of Vegetables, especially the Birch, others say Beech-Trees, which were consecrated by the Pagans to the supreme Numen.
In these lonesome Habitations they repose themselves during the Winter, in a kind of sleepy State, as half dead, with open Eyes[[9]]. In this Solitude they lie dormant, indulg’d with a little humid Air, till the Sun, by its Entrance into the northern Constellations, restores them to the active Life; without some Air they could not live. Mr. Boyle made the experiment, by putting Vipers into the exhausted Receiver, which soon died upon pumping out the Air.
[9]. Apertis Oculis. Conrad. Gesner. pag. 3. de Serp.
It argues no little Penetration, that they know when and how to shelter themselves in Places of Safety in all Seasons; and what is yet more astonishing, is, that they live there so many Months without Food and without Action; and when released from their hybernal Confinement, how soon do they find out their appointed Food? Taken in this light, they are not singular; for ’tis believed, there are other Animals that pass the Winter-Season in a state of Indolence and Inactivity, as Cuckows and Swallows, making way by their Retreat for Woodcocks and Fieldfares, which visit us in Winter, and then return northwards: They are said to breed in colder Countries, as Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the Islands of Orcades, the most northern Parts of Scotland; which Islands were formerly in possession of the Norwegians, and given and annex’d to Scotland by Christiern I. King of Denmark and Norway, on the Marriage of his Daughter Margaret, with James III. King of Scotland, about the Year 1474.
It is probable, that when these northern Countries are buried in Snow, and their Rivers are frozen up, these Birds take their Flight hither, and such like Places, where they have access to Water, &c. But as to Cuckows and Swallows, as intimated above, ’tis generally allow’d that they sleep in Winter, having, as ’tis said, been found in hollow Trees and Caverns. Nor is this at all unlikely; tho’ on the other hand, I can see no Absurdity in supposing that these should go upon a Summer, as the other do upon a Winter Pilgrimage; that these pursue a lesser Heat, as well as the others fly from a greater Cold. Yea, Vegetables are said to sleep in Winter, and to be awake and lively in Summer: During the Months of their Rest, a quantity of Oil is laid up in them for their Defence against the Cold, and in proportion to the Degrees of it, which they are to sustain; whence it is, that the Trees of the northern Climates so much abound with Oil.
On the other hand, there are Reptiles and Insects that have Sense enough to lay up Winter-Store in Summer, as the Bee, Wasp, Field-Mouse, &c. a Property foreign to the ancient House of Serpents.
In Summer, the Bees labor hard for Winter Provision: As soon as the Air grows mild and warm, they are out betimes, and gather their Harvest from the Simples of the Fields, which they suck into their Bodies, and upon their Return to the Hive they disgorge it, as Pigeons do their Food wherewith they feed their Young. When the Bees have fill’d their Storehouse with the Delicacies of Nature, they lock the Doors, which they seal up with delicate white Wax, to prevent the Emanation of the Honey, which is a vegetable Juice: The Combs in which their Treasure is lodg’d, are geometrically nice, and exceed the most exquisite Art of Man.