Of the Castor or Beaver, the French Academists say, The Structure of the Feet was very extraordinary, and sufficiently demonstrated, that Nature hath designed this Animal to live in the Water, as well as upon Land. For although it had four Feet, like Terrestrial Animals, yet the hindmost seemed more proper to swim than walk with, the Five Toes of which they were compos’d, being joined together like those of a Goose by a Membrane, which serves this Animal to swim with. But the fore ones were made otherwise; for there was no Membrane which held those Toes joined together: And this was requisite for the Conveniency of this Animal, which useth them as Hands like a Squirrel, when he eats. Memoirs for a Nat. Hist. of Animals, pag. 84.
[d] The Mole’s Feet are a remarkable Instance.
[e] The Wings of the Bat are a prodigious Deviation from Nature’s ordinary Way. So ’tis in the Virginian Squirrel, whose Skin is extended between the Fore-Legs and its Body.
[f] Of the Legs of the Elk, the French Academists say, Although some Authors report, that there are Elks in Moscovia, whose Legs are jointless; there is great Probability, that this Opinion is founded on what is reported of those Elks of Muscovia, as well as of Cæsar’s Alce, and Pliny’s Machlis, that they have Legs so stiff and inflexible, that they do run on Ice without slipping; which is a Way that is reported that they have to save themselves from the Wolves, &c. ibid. p. 108.
[g] The common tame Goat (whose Habitation is generally on Mountains and Rocks, and who delighteth to walk on the tops of Pales, Houses, &c. and to take great and seemingly dangerous Leaps) I have observ’d, hath the Joints of the Legs very stiff and strong, the Hoof hollow underneath, and its Edges sharp. The like, I doubt not, is to be found the Wild Goat, considering what Dr. Scheuchzer hath said of its climbing the most dangerous Craggs of the Alps, and the Manner of their hunting it. Vid. Iter. Alpin. 3. p. 9.
[h] Thus in Apes and Monkeys, in the Beaver before, and divers others.
[] It is a singular Provision Nature hath made for the Strength of the Lion, if that be true, which Galen saith is reported of its Bones being not hollow (as in other Animals) but solid: Which Report he thus far confirms, that most of the Bones are so; and that those in the Legs, and some other Parts, have only a small and obscure Cavity in them. Vid. Galen. de Us. Part. L. 11. c. 18.
[k] These Sorts of Differences in the Mechanism of Animals, upon the Score of the Position of their Bodies, occur so often, that it would be no mean Service to Anatomy——if any one would give us a History of those Variations of the Parts of Animals, which spring from the different Postures of their Bodies. Drake Anat. V. 1. B. 1. c. 17.