[] To the foregoing, I shall briefly add some Examples of the special Provision made for the Motion of some Animals by Temporary Parts. Frogs and Toads, in their Tadpole-state, have Tails, which fall off when their Legs are grown out. The Lacerta aquatica, or Water-Newt, when Young, hath four neat ramified Fins, two on a Side, growing out a little above its Fore-Legs, to poise and keep its Body upright, (which gives it the Resemblance of a young Fish,) which fall off when the Legs are grown. And the Nymphæ and Aureliæ, of all or most of the Insects bred in the Waters, as they have particular Forms, different from the Insects they produce; so have also peculiar Parts afforded them for their Motion in the Waters: Oars, Tails, and every Part adapted to the Waters, which are utterly varied in the Insects themselves, in their mature State in the Air.
[k] Jam verò alia animalia gradiendo, alia serpendo ad pastum accedunt, alia volando, alia nando. Cic. de Nat. Deor. l. 2. c. 47.
Compare also what Galen excellently observes concerning the Number of Feet in Man, and in other Animals; and the wise Provision thereby made for the Use and Benefit of the respective Animals. De Us. Part. in the beginning of the third Book.
[l] As I shall hereafter shew, that the indulgent Creator hath abundantly provided for the Safety of Animals by their Cloathing, Habitations, Sagacity and Instruments of Defence; so there appears to be a Contemperament of their Motion with these Provisions. They that are well armed and guarded, have commonly a slower Motion; whereas they that are destitute thereof, are swifter. So also timid helpless Animals are commonly swift; thus Deer and Hares: But Animals endowed with Courage, Craft, Arms, &c. commonly have a slower Motion.
[n] See [Book VII. Chap. 1.] the end.
[o] See [Book IX. Chap. 1. Note (c).]
[p] Siquis unquam alius Opifex, æqualitatis & proportionis magnam habuit providentiam, certè Natura habuit in animalium corporibus conformandis; unde Hippocrates eam rectissimè justam nominat. Galen. de Us. Part. l. 2. c. 16.
[q] The Make of the Bodies of some Water-fowl, seems to contradict what I here say, the Heads and long Necks of some, as of Swans, Ducks and Geese; and the hinder Parts of others, as of the Doucker and More-hen, and some other Kinds, seeming to be too heavy for the rest of their Body. But instead of being an Argument against, it is a notable Instance of, the divine Art and Providence, these Things being nice Accommodations to their way of Life. Of such as have long Necks, see [Book VII. Chap. 2. Note (i).]
And as for such whose hinder Parts seem to over-balance their foremost Parts, whereby they fly with their Bodies in a manner erect, this also is an excellent Accommodation to their way of Life, which is Diving rather than Flying. Vid. [Book VII. Chap. 4. Note (k).]