[bbbb] I might name here some of the Species of Birds, the whole Tribe almost of Insects, and some among other Tribes, that are able to subsist for many Months without Food, and some without Respiration too, or very little; But it may suffice to instance only in the Land-Tortoise, of the Structure of whose Heart and Lungs: See [Book VI. Chap. 5. Note (b).]
[cccc] Inediam diutissimè tolerat Lupus, ut & alia omnia carnivora, licèt voracissima; magnâ utique naturæ providentiâ; quoniam esca non semper in promptu est. Ray’s Synops. Quadr. p. 174.
To the long Abstinence mentioned of Brute-Animals, I hope the Reader will excuse me if I add one or two Instances of extraordinary Abstinence among Men. One Martha Taylor, born in Derbyshire, by a Blow on the Back fell into such a Prostration of Appetite, that she took little Sustenance, but some Drops with a Feather, from Christmas 1667. for thirteen Months, and slept but little too all the Time. See Dr. Sampson’s Account thereof in Ephem. Germ. T. 3. Obs. 173.
To this we may add the Case of S. Chilton, of Tinsbury, near Bath, who in the Years 1693, 1696, and 97, slept divers Weeks together. And although he would sometimes, in a very odd manner, take Sustenance, yet would lie a long Time without any, or with very little, and all without any considerable Decay. See Phil. Trans. Nᵒ. 304.
[dddd] They are admirable Instincts which the Sieur de Beauplan relates of his own Knowledge, of the little Animals called Bohaques in Ukraine. They make Burroughs like Rabbets, and in October shut themselves up, and do not come out again till April.——They spend all the Winter under Ground, eating what they laid up in Summer.——Those that are lazy among them, they lay on their Backs, then lay a great handful of dry Herbage upon their Bodies, &c. then others drag those Drones to the Mouths of their Burroughs, and so those Creatures serve instead of Barrows, &c. I have often seen them practise this, and have had the Curiosity to observe them whole Days together.——Their Holes are parted like Chambers; some serve for Store-Houses, others for Burying-Places, &c. Their Government is nothing inferior to that of Bees, &c. They never go abroad without posting a Centinel upon some high Ground, to give notice to the others whilst they are feeding. As soon as the Centinel sees any Body, it stands upon his Hind-Legs and whistles. Beauplan’s Description of Ukraine, in Vol. I. of the Collection of Voyages, &c.
A like Instance of the Northern Galli Sylvestres, see in [Chap. 13. Note (g).]
As for the Scriptural Instance of the Ant, see hereafter [Book VIII. Chap. 5. Note (d).]
[eeee] I have in Autumn, not without Pleasure observed, not only the great Sagacity and Diligence of Swine, in hunting out the Stores of the Field-Mice; but the wonderful Precaution also of those little Animals, in hiding their Food beforehand against Winter. In the Time of Acorns falling, I have, by means of the Hogs, discovered, that the Mice had, all over the neighbouring fields, treasured up single Acorns in little Holes they had scratched, and in which they had carefully covered up the Acorn. These the Hogs would, Day after Day, hunt out by their Smell.
CHAP. XII.
Of the Cloathing of Animals.