2879The Hiſtory of Life and Death.
for long life:
nay, he hath this ſign of ſhort life, that his bearing in the womb is but
ſhort, ſcarce full forty days.
ſhort, ſcarce full forty days.
The Fox ſeems to be well diſpoſed in many things for long life;
he is well skinned,
115. feeds on fleſh, lives in Dens; and yet he is noted not to have that property. Certainly
he is a kind of Dog, and that kind is but ſhort-liv’d.
115. feeds on fleſh, lives in Dens; and yet he is noted not to have that property. Certainly
he is a kind of Dog, and that kind is but ſhort-liv’d.
The Camel is a long liver, a lean Creature, and ſinewy, ſo that he doth ordinarily
226. attain to fifty, and ſometimes to an hundred years.
226. attain to fifty, and ſometimes to an hundred years.
The Horſe lives but to a moderate age, ſcarce to forty years, his ordinary period
337. is twenty years: but perhaps he is beholden for this ſhortneſs of life to Man; for
we have now no Horſes of the Sun, that live freely, and at pleaſure, in good paſtures.
Not withſtanding the Horſe grows till he be ſix years old, and is able for generation
in his old age. Beſides, the Mare goeth longer with her young one than a woman,
and brings forth, two at a burthen more rarely. The Aſs lives commonly to the Horſe’s
age; but the Mule out-lives them both.
337. is twenty years: but perhaps he is beholden for this ſhortneſs of life to Man; for
we have now no Horſes of the Sun, that live freely, and at pleaſure, in good paſtures.
Not withſtanding the Horſe grows till he be ſix years old, and is able for generation
in his old age. Beſides, the Mare goeth longer with her young one than a woman,
and brings forth, two at a burthen more rarely. The Aſs lives commonly to the Horſe’s
age; but the Mule out-lives them both.
The Hart is famous amongſt men for long life, yet not upon any relation that
448. is undoubted. They tell of a certain Hart that was found with a Collar about his neck,
and that Collar hidden with Fat. The long life of the Hart is the leſs credible, be-
cauſe he comes to his perfection at the fifth year; and not long aſter his Horns
(which he ſheds and renews yearly) grow more narrow at the Root, and leſs
branched.
448. is undoubted. They tell of a certain Hart that was found with a Collar about his neck,
and that Collar hidden with Fat. The long life of the Hart is the leſs credible, be-
cauſe he comes to his perfection at the fifth year; and not long aſter his Horns
(which he ſheds and renews yearly) grow more narrow at the Root, and leſs
branched.
The Dog is but a ſhort liver, he exceeds not the age of twenty years, and for the
559. moſt part lives not to fourteen years: a Creature of the hotteſt temper, and living in ex-
treams; for he is commonly either in vehement motion, or ſleeping: beſides, the
Bitch bringeth forth many at a Burden, and goeth nine weeks.
559. moſt part lives not to fourteen years: a Creature of the hotteſt temper, and living in ex-
treams; for he is commonly either in vehement motion, or ſleeping: beſides, the
Bitch bringeth forth many at a Burden, and goeth nine weeks.
The Ox like wiſe, for the greatneſs of his body and ſtrength, is but a ſhort liver, about
6610. ſome ſixteen years, and the Males live longer than the Females; notwithſtanding they
bear uſually but one at a burden, and go nine months: a Creature dull, fleſhy, and ſoon
fatted, and living onely upon Herby ſubſtances, without Grain.
6610. ſome ſixteen years, and the Males live longer than the Females; notwithſtanding they
bear uſually but one at a burden, and go nine months: a Creature dull, fleſhy, and ſoon
fatted, and living onely upon Herby ſubſtances, without Grain.
The Sheep ſeldom lives to ten years, though he be a creature of a moderate ſize, and
7711. excellently clad; and, that which may ſeem a wonder, being a creature with ſo little
a Gall, yet he hath the moſt curled Coat of any other, for the Hair of no Creature is ſo
much curled as Wool is. The Rams generate not before the third year, and continue
able for generation until the eighth. The Ews bear young as long as they live. The
Sheep is a diſeaſed Creature, and rarely lives to his full age.
7711. excellently clad; and, that which may ſeem a wonder, being a creature with ſo little
a Gall, yet he hath the moſt curled Coat of any other, for the Hair of no Creature is ſo
much curled as Wool is. The Rams generate not before the third year, and continue
able for generation until the eighth. The Ews bear young as long as they live. The
Sheep is a diſeaſed Creature, and rarely lives to his full age.
The Goat lives to the ſame age with the Sheep, and is not much unlike in other
8812. things; though he be a Creature more nimble, and of ſomewhat a firmer fleſh, and
ſo ſhould be longer-liv’d; but then he is much more laſcivious, and that ſhortens his
life.
8812. things; though he be a Creature more nimble, and of ſomewhat a firmer fleſh, and
ſo ſhould be longer-liv’d; but then he is much more laſcivious, and that ſhortens his
life.
The Sow lives to fifteen years, ſometimes to twenty:
and though it be a Creature
9913. of the moiſteſt fleſh, yet that ſeems to make nothing to Length of Life. Of the Wild
Boar or Sow we have nothing certain.
9913. of the moiſteſt fleſh, yet that ſeems to make nothing to Length of Life. Of the Wild
Boar or Sow we have nothing certain.
The Cat’s age is betwixt ſix and ten years:
a creature nimble and full of ſpirit, whoſe
101014. ſeed (as Ælian reports) burneth the Female; whereupon it is ſaid, That the Cat con-
ceives with pain, and brings forth with eaſe: A Creature ravenous in eating, rather
ſwallowing down his meat whole than feeding.
101014. ſeed (as Ælian reports) burneth the Female; whereupon it is ſaid, That the Cat con-
ceives with pain, and brings forth with eaſe: A Creature ravenous in eating, rather
ſwallowing down his meat whole than feeding.
Hares and Conies attain ſcarce to ſeven years, being both Creatures generative, and
111115. with young ones of ſeveral conceptions in their bellies. In this they are unlike, that
the Coney lives under ground; and the Hare above ground; and again, that the Hare
is of a more duskiſh fleſh.
111115. with young ones of ſeveral conceptions in their bellies. In this they are unlike, that
the Coney lives under ground; and the Hare above ground; and again, that the Hare
is of a more duskiſh fleſh.
Birds for the ſize of their bodies are much leſſer than Beaſts;
for an Eagle or Swan
121216. is but a ſmall thing in compariſon of an ox or Horſe, and ſo is an Eſtrich to an Ele-
phant.
121216. is but a ſmall thing in compariſon of an ox or Horſe, and ſo is an Eſtrich to an Ele-
phant.
Birds are excellently well-clad:
for Feathers, for warmth and cloſe ſitting to the
131317. body, exceed Wooll and Hairs.
131317. body, exceed Wooll and Hairs.
Birds, though they hatch many young ones together, yet they bear them not all in
141418. their bodies at once, but lay their Eggs by turns, whereby their Fruit hath the more
plentiful nouriſh ment whilſt it is in their bodies.
141418. their bodies at once, but lay their Eggs by turns, whereby their Fruit hath the more
plentiful nouriſh ment whilſt it is in their bodies.
Birds chew little or nothing, but their meat is found whole in their crops, notwith-
151519. ſtanding they will break the ſhells of Fruits, and pick out the Kernels: they are thought
to be of a very hot and ſtrong concoction.
151519. ſtanding they will break the ſhells of Fruits, and pick out the Kernels: they are thought
to be of a very hot and ſtrong concoction.