Of the earth. Page 296 297 II. The hills and valleys in the earth and moon. 298 Hills in the earth. Lunar mountains. How to meafure them None on the moon's limb. work of God, not chance. III. Uniformity of the globes argue them the Caufes of their figures enquired into IV. Parts of the globes are well difpofed. 299 302 ibid. 303 305 306 308 ibid. 309 311 312 313 315 316 ibid. 318 319 322 323 ibid. 324 Of Attraction or Gravity. CHAP. I. Its usefulness in preferving the figure of III. Gravity retains the planets in their orbits. 326 The nature and properties of gravity. 327 Caufe of gravity not affigned. 328 The adjustment of velocity and gravity. 350 Provifions for it by frequent rotations. ibid. Things obfervable in those moons. BOOK VI A SURVEY OF QUADRUPEDS, CHA P. I. OF THEIR PRONE POSTURE. Ntaking a view of this part of the animal world, IN fo far as the ftructure of their bodies is conformable to that of man, I fhall pass them by, and only take notice of fome peculiarities in them, which are plain indications of defign, and the divine fuperintendence and management. And, 1. The moft vifible apparent variation is the prone pofture of their body: concerning which I fhall take notice only of two things, the parts miniftring thereto, and the use and benefit thereof. I. As for the parts, it is obfervable, that in all these creatures, the legs are made exactly conformable to this pofture, as those in man are to his erect pofture: and what is farther obfervable also, is, that the legs and feet are always admirably fuited to the motion and exercises of each animal in fome they are made for ftrength only, to fupport a vaft, unwieldy body; in others they are made for agility and fwiftnefs", in fome they are made for only walking and running The elephant being a creature of prodigious weight, the largest of all animals, Pliny faith, hath its legs accordingly made of an immenfe ftrength, like pillars, rather than legs. Deer, hares, and other creatures, remarkable for fwiftnefs, have the legs accordingly flender, but withal ftrong, and every way adapted to their swiftness. Thus the feet of the otter are made, the toes being all conjoined with membranes, as the feet of geefe and ducks are. And in fwimming it is obfervable, that when the foot goes forward in the water, the toes are clofe; but when backward, they are fpread our, whereby they more forcibly ftrike the water, and drive themfelves forward. The fame may be observed also in ducks and geefe, &c. Of the caftor or beaver, the French academifts fay, The ftruc• ture of the feet was very extraordinary, and sufficiently demonftrated, that nature hath defigned this animal to live in the water, as well as upon land. For although it had four feet, like terref trial animals, yet the hindmost seemed more proper to fwim than walk with, the five toes of which they are compofed, being joined together like thofe of a goofe by a membrane, which ferves this animal to swim with. But the fore ones were made other |