Which how they are able to do, will not seem strange, if we consider,
first, how little body there is in one of these creatures compar'd to their
superficies, or outside, their thickness, perhaps, oftentimes, not
amounting to the hundredth part of an Inch: Next, the strength and agility
of these creatures compar'd to their bulk, being, proportionable to their
bulk, perhaps, an hundred times stronger then an Horse or Man. And thirdly,
if we consider that Nature does always appropriate the instruments, so as
they are the most fit and convenient to perform their offices, and the most
simple and plain that possibly can be; this we may see further verify'd
also in the foot of a Louse which is very much differing from those I have
been describing, but more convenient and necessary for the place of its
habitation, each of his leggs being footed with a couple of small claws
which he can open or shut at pleasure, shap'd almost like the claws of a
Lobster or Crab, but with appropriated contrivances for his peculiar life,
which being to move its body to and fro upon the hairs of the creature it
inhabits, Nature has furnish'd one of its claws with joints, almost like
the joints of a man's fingers, so as thereby it is able to encompass or
grasp a hair as firmly as a man can a stick or rope.
Nor, is there a less admirable and wonderfull _Mechanism_ in the foot of a
Spider, whereby he is able to spin, weave, and climb, or run on his curious
transparent clew, of which I shall say more in the description of that
Animal.
Pages:
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388