[l] To enable the Fish to abide at the Top, or Bottom, or any other Part of the Waters, the Air-Bladder is given to most Fishes, which as ’tis more full or empty, makes the Body more or less buoyant.
[m] The Tail is the grand Instrument of the Motion of the Body; not the Fins, as some imagine. For which Reason, Fishes are more musculous and strong in that Part, than in all the rest of their Body, according as it is in the motive Parts of all Animals, in the pectoral Muscles of Birds, the Thighs of Man, &c.
If the Reader hath a Mind to see the admirable Method, how Fishes row themselves by their Tail, and other Curiosities relating to their Swimming; I shall refer him to Borelli de mot. Anim. Part. 1. Chap. 23. particularly to Prop. 213.
BOOK X.
Of Vegetables.
The Vegetable Kingdom, although an inferiour Branch of the Creation, exhibits to us such an ample Scene of the Creator’s Contrivance, Curiosity, and Art, that I much rather chuse to shew what might be said, than engage too far in Particulars. I might insist upon the great Variety there is, both of Trees and Plants provided for all Ages, and for every Use and Occasion of the World[a]; some for Building, for Tools and Utensils of every Kind; some hard, some soft; some tough and strong, some brittle; some long and tall, some short and low; some thick and large, some small and tender; some for Physick[], some for Food, some for Pleasure; yea, the most abject[c] Shrubs, and the very Bushes and Brambles themselves, the Husbandman can testify the Use of.
I might also survey here the curious Anatomy and Structure of their Bodies[d], and shew the admirable Provision made for the Conveyance of the lymphatick and essential Juices, for communicating the Air, as necessary to Vegetable, as Animal Life[e]: I might also speak of, even the very Covering they are provided with, because it is a curious Work in Reality, although less so in Appearance: And much more therefore might I survey the neat Variety and Texture of their Leaves[f], the admirable Finery, Gaiety, and Fragrancy of their Flowers[g]. I might also inquire into the wonderful Generation and Make of the Seed[h], and the great Usefulness of their Fruit: I might shew that the Rudiments and Lineaments of the Parent-Vegetable, though never so large and spacious, is locked up in the little Compass of their Fruit or Seed, though some of those Seeds are scarce visible to the naked Eye[]. And forasmuch as the Perpetuity and Safety of the Species depends upon the Safety of the Seed and Fruit in a great measure, I might therefore take notice of the peculiar Care the great God of Nature hath taken for the Conservation and Safety hereof: As particularly in such as dare to shew their Heads all the Year, how securely their Flower, Seed or Fruit is locked up all the Winter, together with their Leaves and Branches, in their Gems[k] and well fenced and covered there with neat and close Tunicks. And for such as dare not so to expose themselves, with what Safety are they preserved under the Coverture of the Earth, in their Root [l], Seed [m], or Fruit, till invited out by the kindly Warmth of the Spring! And when the whole Vegetable Race is thus called out, it is very pretty to observe the Methods of Nature in guarding those insensitive Creatures against Harms and Inconveniencies, by making some (for Instance) to lie down prostrate, and others, to close themselves up [n] upon the Touch of Animals, and the most to shut up their Flowers, their Down [o], or other their like Guard, upon the Close and Cool of the Evening, by Means of Rain, or other Matters that may be prejudicial to the tender Seed.