第3章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"History of Animals",免费读到尾

  Theabovequotationssumupprettywellthestatementsofallpreviouswriters。Furthermore,therearesomewritersonNaturalHistorywhohavenotventuredtolaydownthelawinsuchprecisetermsasregardstheveins,butwhoallalikeagreeinassigningtheheadandthebrainasthestarting-pointoftheveins。Andinthisopiniontheyaremistaken。

  Theinvestigationofsuchasubject,ashasbeenremarked,isonefraughtwithdifficulties;but,ifanyonebekeenlyinterestedinthematter,hisbestplanwillbetoallowhisanimalstostarvetoemaciation,thentostranglethemonasudden,andthereupontoprosecutehisinvestigations。

  Wenowproceedtogiveparticularsregardingthepropertiesandfunctionsoftheveins。Therearetwoblood-vesselsinthethoraxbythebackbone,andlyingtoitsinnerside;andofthesetwothelargeroneissituatedtothefront,andthelesseroneistotherearofit;

  andthelargerissituatedrathertotherighthandsideofthebody,andthelesseronetotheleft;andbysomethisveinistermedthe\'aorta\',fromthefactthatevenindeadbodiespartofitisobservedtobefullofair。Theseblood-vesselshavetheiroriginsintheheart,fortheytraversetheotherviscera,inwhateverdirectiontheyhappentorun,withoutinanywaylosingtheirdistinctivecharacteristicasblood-vessels,whereastheheartisasitwereapartofthemandthattoomoreinrespecttothefrontwardandlargeroneofthetwo,owingtothefactthatthesetwoveinsareaboveandbelow,withtheheartlyingmidway。

  Theheartinallanimalshascavitiesinsideit。Inthecaseofthesmalleranimalseventhelargestofthechambersisscarcelydiscernible;thesecondlargerisscarcelydiscernibleinanimalsofmediumsize;butinthelargestanimalsallthreechambersaredistinctlyseen。Intheheartthenwithitspointedenddirectedfrontwards,ashasbeenobservedthelargestofthethreechambersisontheright-handsideandhighestup;theleastoneisontheleft-handside;andthemedium-sizedoneliesinbetwixttheothertwo;andthelargestoneofthethreechambersisagreatdeallargerthaneitherofthetwoothers。Allthree,however,areconnectedwithpassagesleadinginthedirectionofthelung,butallthesecommunicationsareindistinctlydiscerniblebyreasonoftheirminuteness,exceptone。

  Thegreatblood-vessel,then,isattachedtothebiggestofthethreechambers,theonethatliesuppermostandontheright-handside;itthenextendsrightthroughthechamber,comingoutasblood-vesselagain;justasthoughthecavityoftheheartwereapartofthevessel,inwhichthebloodbroadensitschannelasariverthatwidensoutinalake。Theaortaisattachedtothemiddlechamber;

  only,bytheway,itisconnectedwithitbymuchnarrowerpipe。

  Thegreatblood-vesselthenpassesthroughtheheartandrunsfromtheheartintotheaorta。Thegreatvessellooksasthoughmadeofmembraneorskin,whiletheaortaisnarrowerthanit,andisverysinewy;andasitstretchesawaytotheheadandtothelowerpartsitbecomesexceedinglynarrowandsinewy。

  Firstofall,then,upwardsfromthehearttherestretchesapartofthegreatblood-vesseltowardsthelungandtheattachmentoftheaorta,apartconsistingofalargeundividedvessel。Buttheresplitofffromittwoparts;onetowardsthelungandtheothertowardsthebackboneandthelastvertebraoftheneck。

  Thevessel,then,thatextendstothelung,asthelungitselfisduplicate,dividesatfirstintotwo;andthenextendsalongbyeverypipeandeveryperforation,greateralongthegreaterones,lesseralongtheless,socontinuouslythatitisimpossibletodiscernasinglepartwhereinthereisnotperforationandvein;fortheextremitiesareindistinguishablefromtheirminuteness,andinpointoffactthewholelungappearstobefilledwithblood。

  Thebranchesoftheblood-vesselslieabovethetubesthatextendfromthewindpipe。Andthatvesselwhichextendstothevertebraoftheneckandthebackbone,stretchesbackagainalongthebackbone;asHomerrepresentsinthelines:-

  Antilochus,asThoonturnedhimround,Transpierc\'dhisbackwithadishonestwound;

  Thehollowveinthattotheneckextends,Alongthechine,theeagerjavelinrends。

  Fromthisvesselthereextendsmallblood-vesselsateachribandeachvertebra;andatthevertebraabovethekidneysthevesselbifurcates。Andintheabovewaythepartsbranchofffromthegreatblood-vessel。

  Butupaboveallthese,fromthatpartwhichisconnectedwiththeheart,theentireveinbranchesoffintwodirections。Foritsbranchesextendtothesidesandtothecollarbones,andthenpasson,inmenthroughthearmpitstothearms,inquadrupedstotheforelegs,inbirdstothewings,andinfishestotheupperorpectoralfins。

  Seediagram。Thetrunksoftheseveins,wheretheyfirstbranchoff,arecalledthe\'jugular\'veins;and,wheretheybranchofftotheneckthegreatveinrunalongsidethewindpipe;and,occasionally,iftheseveinsarepressedexternally,men,thoughnotactuallychoked,becomeinsensible,shuttheireyes,andfallflatontheground。Extendinginthewaydescribedandkeepingthewindpipeinbetwixtthem,theypassonuntiltheyreachtheearsatthejunctionofthelowerjawwiththeskull。Henceagaintheybranchoffintofourveins,ofwhichonebendsbackanddescendsthroughtheneckandtheshoulder,andmeetsthepreviousbranchingoffoftheveinatthebendofthearm,whiletherestofitterminatesatthehandandfingers。Seediagram。

  Eachveinoftheotherpairstretchesfromtheregionoftheeartothebrain,andbranchesoffinanumberoffineanddelicateveinsintotheso-calledmeninx,ormembrane,whichsurroundsthebrain。Thebrainitselfinallanimalsisdestituteofblood,andnovein,greatorsmall,holdsitscoursetherein。Butoftheremainingveinsthatbranchofffromthelastmentionedveinsomeenvelopthehead,othersclosetheircoursesintheorgansofsenseandattherootsoftheteethinveinsexceedinglyfineandminute。

  4

  Andinlikemannerthepartsofthelesseroneofthetwochiefblood-vessels,designatedtheaorta,branchoff,accompanyingthebranchesfromthebigvein;onlythat,inregardtotheaorta,thepassagesarelessinsize,andthebranchesveryconsiderablylessthanarethoseofthegreatvein。Somuchfortheveinsasobservedintheregionsabovetheheart。

  Thepartofthegreatveinthatliesunderneaththeheartextends,freelysuspended,rightthroughthemidriff,andisunitedbothtotheaortaandthebackbonebyslackmembranouscommunications。

  Fromitonevein,shortandwide,extendsthroughtheliver,andfromitanumberofminuteveinsbranchoffintotheliveranddisappear。Fromtheveinthatpassesthroughthelivertwobranchesseparateoff,ofwhichoneterminatesinthediaphragmorso-calledmidriff,andtheotherrunsupagainthroughthearmpitintotherightarmanduniteswiththeotherveinsattheinsideofthebendofthearm;anditisinconsequenceofthislocalconnexionthat,whenthesurgeonopensthisveinintheforearm,thepatientisrelievedofcertainpainsintheliver;andfromtheleft-handsideofitthereextendsashortbutthickveintothespleenandthelittleveinsbranchingoffitdisappearinthatorgan。Anotherpartbranchesofffromtheleft-handsideofthegreatvein,andascends,byacoursesimilartothecourserecentlydescribed,intotheleftarm;onlythattheascendingveinintheonecaseistheveinthattraversestheliver,whileinthiscaseitisdistinctfromtheveinthatrunsintothespleen。Again,otherveinsbranchofffromthebigvein;

  onetotheomentum,andanothertothepancreas,fromwhichveinrunanumberofveinsthroughthemesentery。Alltheseveinscoalesceinasinglelargevein,alongtheentiregutandstomachtotheoesophagus;

  aboutthesepartsthereisagreatramificationofbranchveins。

  Asfarasthekidneys,eachofthetworemainingundivided,theaortaandthebigveinextend;andheretheygetmorecloselyattachedtothebackbone,andbranchoff,eachofthetwo,intoaAshape,andthebigveingetstotherearoftheaorta。Butthechiefattachmentoftheaortatothebackbonetakesplaceintheregionoftheheart;andtheattachmentiseffectedbymeansofminuteandsinewyvessels。Theaorta,justasitdrawsofffromtheheart,isatubeofconsiderablevolume,but,asitadvancesinitscourse,itgetsnarrowerandmoresinewy。Andfromtheaortathereextendveinstothemesenteryjustliketheveinsthatextendthitherfromthebigvein,onlythatthebranchesinthecaseoftheaortaareconsiderablylessinmagnitude;theyare,indeed,narrowandfibrillar,andtheyendindelicatehollowfibre-likeveinlets。

  Thereisnovesselthatrunsfromtheaortaintotheliverorthespleen。

  Fromeachofthetwogreatblood-vesselsthereextendbranchestoeachofthetwoflanks,andbothbranchesfastenontothebone。

  Vesselsalsoextendtothekidneysfromthebigveinandtheaorta;

  onlythattheydonotopenintothecavityoftheorgan,buttheirramificationspenetrateintoitssubstance。Fromtheaortaruntwootherductstothebladder,firmandcontinuous;andthereareotherductsfromthehollowofthekidneys,innowaycommunicatingwiththebigvein。Fromthecentreofeachofthetwokidneysspringsahollowsinewyvein,runningalongthebackbonerightthroughtheloins;byandbyeachofthetwoveinsfirstdisappearsinitsownflank,andsoonafterwardsreappearsstretchinginthedirectionoftheflank。Theextremitiesoftheseattachtothebladder,andalsointhemaletothepenisandinthefemaletothewomb。Fromthebigveinnoveinextendstothewomb,buttheorganisconnectedwiththeaortabyveinsnumerousandcloselypacked。

  Furthermore,fromtheaortaandthegreatveinatthepointsofdivaricationtherebranchoffotherveins。Someoftheseruntothegroins-largehollowveins-andthenpassondownthroughthelegsandterminateinthefeetandtoes。And,again,anothersetrunthroughthegroinsandthethighscross-garterfashion,fromrighttoleftandfromlefttoright,anduniteinthehamswiththeotherveins。

  Intheabovedescriptionwehavethrownlightuponthecourseoftheveinsandtheirpointsofdeparture。

  Inallsanguineousanimalsthecasestandsasheresetforthinregardtothepointsofdepartureandthecoursesofthechiefveins。Butthedescriptiondoesnotholdequallygoodfortheentirevein-systeminalltheseanimals。For,inpointoffact,theorgansarenotidenticallysituatedinthemall;and,whatismore,someanimalsarefurnishedwithorgansofwhichotheranimalsaredestitute。Atthesametime,whilethedescriptionsofarholdsgood,theproofofitsaccuracyisnotequallyeasyinallcases,butiseasiestinthecaseofanimalsofconsiderablemagnitudeandsuppliedabundantlywithblood。Forinlittleanimalsandthosescantilysuppliedwithblood,eitherfromnaturalandinherentcausesorfromaprevalenceoffatinthebody,thoroughaccuracyininvestigationisnotequallyattainable;forinthelatterofthesecreaturesthepassagesgetclogged,likewater-channelschokedwithslush;andtheothershaveafewminutefibrestoserveinsteadofveins。Butinallcasesthebigveinisplainlydiscernible,evenincreaturesofinsignificantsize。

  5

  Thesinewsofanimalshavethefollowingproperties。Forthesealsothepointoforiginistheheart;forthehearthassinewswithinitselfinthelargestofitsthreechambers,andtheaortaisasinew-likevein;infact,atitsextremityitisactuallyasinew,foritistherenolongerhollow,andisstretchedlikethesinewswheretheyterminateatthejointingsofthebones。Beitremembered,however,thatthesinewsdonotproceedinunbrokensequencefromonepointoforigin,asdotheblood-vessels。

  Fortheveinshavetheshapeoftheentirebody,likeasketchofamannikin;insuchawaythatthewholeframeseemstobefilledupwithlittleveinsinattenuatedsubjects-forthespaceoccupiedbyfleshinfatindividualsisfilledwithlittleveinsinthinones-whereasthesinewsaredistributedaboutthejointsandtheflexuresofthebones。Now,ifthesinewswerederivedinunbrokensequencefromacommonpointofdeparture,thiscontinuitywouldbediscernibleinattenuatedspecimens。

  Intheham,orthepartoftheframebroughtintofullplayintheeffortofleaping,isanimportantsystemofsinews;andanothersinew,adoubleone,isthatcalled\'thetendon\',andothersarethosebroughtintoplaywhenagreateffortofphysicalstrengthisrequired;thatistosay,theepitonosorback-stayandtheshoulder-sinews。Othersinews,devoidofspecificdesignation,aresituatedintheregionoftheflexuresofthebones;forallthebonesthatareattachedtooneanotherareboundtogetherbysinews,andagreatquantityofsinewsareplacedintheneighbourhoodofallthebones。Only,bytheway,intheheadthereisnosinew;buttheheadisheldtogetherbythesuturesofthebones。

  Sinewisfissilelengthwise,butcrosswiseitisnoteasilybroken,butadmitsofaconsiderableamountofhardtension。Inconnexionwithsinewsaliquidmucusisdeveloped,whiteandglutinous,andtheorgan,infact,issustainedbyitandappearstobesubstantiallycomposedofit。Now,veinmaybesubmittedtotheactualcautery,butsinew,whensubmittedtosuchaction,shrivelsupaltogether;and,ifsinewsbecutasunder,theseveredpartswillnotagaincohere。Afeelingofnumbnessisincidentalonlytopartsoftheframewheresinewissituated。

  Thereisaveryextensivesystemofsinewsconnectedseverallywiththefeet,thehands,theribs,theshoulder-blades,theneck,andthearms。

  Allanimalssuppliedwithbloodarefurnishedwithsinews;butinthecaseofanimalsthathavenoflexurestotheirlimbs,butare,infact,destituteofeitherfeetorhands,thesinewsarefineandinconspicuous;andso,asmighthavebeenanticipated,thesinewsinthefisharechieflydiscernibleinconnexionwiththefin。

  6

  Theinesorfibrousconnectivetissueareasomethingintermediatebetweensinewandvein。Someofthemaresuppliedwithfluid,thelymph;andtheypassfromsinewtoveinandfromveintosinew。Thereisanotherkindofinesorfibrethatisfoundinblood,butnotinthebloodofallanimalsalike。Ifthisfibrebeleftintheblood,thebloodwillcoagulate;ifitberemovedorextracted,thebloodisfoundtobeincapableofcoagulation。While,however,thisfibrousmatterisfoundinthebloodofthegreatmajorityofanimals,itisnotfoundinall。Forinstance,wefailtofinditinthebloodofthedeer,theroe,theantelope,andsomeotheranimals;and,owingtothisdeficiencyofthefibroustissue,thebloodoftheseanimalsdoesnotcoagulatetotheextentobservedinthebloodofotheranimals。Thebloodofthedeercoagulatestoaboutthesameextentasthatofthehare:thatistothebloodineithercasecoagulates,butnotintoastifforjelly-likesubstance,likethebloodofordinaryanimals,butonlyintoaflaccidconsistencylikethatofmilkwhichisnotsubjectedtotheactionofrennet。Thebloodoftheantelopeadmitsofafirmerconsistencyincoagulation;forinthisrespectitresembles,oronlycomesalittleshortof,thebloodofsheep。Sucharethepropertiesofvein,sinew,andfibroustissue。

  7

  Thebonesinanimalsareallconnectedwithonesinglebone,andareinterconnected,liketheveins,inoneunbrokensequence;andthereisnoinstanceofabonestandingapartbyitself。Inallanimalsfurnishedwithbones,thespineorbackboneisthepointoforiginfortheentireosseoussystem。Thespineiscomposedofvertebrae,anditextendsfromtheheaddowntotheloins。Thevertebraeareallperforated,and,above,thebonyportionoftheheadisconnectedwiththetopmostvertebrae,andisdesignatedthe\'skull\'。Andtheserratedlinesontheskullaretermed\'sutures\'。

  Theskullisnotformedalikeinallanimals。Insomeanimalstheskullconsistsofonesingleundividedbone,asinthecaseofthedog;inothersitiscompositeinstructure,asinman;andinthehumanspeciesthesutureiscircularinthefemale,whileinthemaleitismadeupofthreeseparatesutures,unitingaboveinthree-cornerfashion;andinstanceshavebeenknownofaman\'sskullbeingdevoidofsuturealtogether。Theskulliscomposednotoffourbones,butofsix;twooftheseareintheregionoftheears,smallincomparisonwiththeotherfour。Fromtheskullextendthejaws,constitutedofbone。Animalsingeneralmovethelowerjaw;therivercrocodileistheonlyanimalthatmovestheupperone。Inthejawsisthetooth-system;andtheteethareconstitutedofbone,andarehalf-wayperforated;andtheboneinquestionistheonlykindofbonewhichitisfoundimpossibletogravewithagravingtool。

  Ontheupperpartofthecourseofthebackbonearethecollar-bonesandtheribs。Thechestrestsonribs;andtheseribsmeettogether,whereastheothersdonot;fornoanimalhasboneintheregionofthestomach。Thencometheshoulder-bones,orblade-bones,andthearm-bonesconnectedwiththese,andthebonesinthehandsconnectedwiththebonesofthearms。Withanimalsthathaveforelegs,theosseoussystemoftheforelegresemblesthatofthearminman。

  Belowthelevelofthebackbone,afterthehaunch-bone,comesthehip-socket;thentheleg-bones,thoseinthethighsandthoseintheshins,whicharetermedcolenesorlimb-bones,apartofwhichistheankle,whileapartofthesameistheso-called\'plectrum\'

  inthosecreaturesthathaveanankle;andconnectedwiththesebonesarethebonesinthefeet。

  Now,withallanimalsthataresuppliedwithbloodandfurnishedwithfeet,andareatthesametimeviviparous,thebonesdonotdiffergreatlyonefromanother,butonlyinthewayofrelativehardness,softness,ormagnitude。Afurtherdifference,bytheway,isthatinoneandthesameanimalcertainbonesaresuppliedwithmarrow,whileothersaredestituteofit。Someanimalsmightoncasualobservationappeartohavenomarrowwhatsoeverintheirbones:asisthecasewiththelion,owingtohishavingmarrowonlyinsmallamount,poorandthin,andinveryfewbones;formarrowisfoundinhisthighandarmbones。Thebonesofthelionareexceptionallyhard;sohard,infact,thatiftheyarerubbedhardagainstoneanothertheyemitsparkslikeflint-stones。Thedolphinhasbones,andnotfish-spine。

  Oftheotheranimalssuppliedwithblood,somedifferbutlittle,asisthecasewithbirds;othershavesystemsanalogous,asfishes;forviviparousfishes,suchasthecartilaginousspecies,aregristle-spined,whiletheoviparahaveaspinewhichcorrespondstothebackboneinquadrupeds。Thisexceptionalpropertyhasbeenobservedinfishes,thatinsomeofthemtherearefounddelicatespinesscatteredhereandtherethroughoutthefleshyparts。Theserpentissimilarlyconstructedtothefish;inotherwords,hisbackboneisspinous。Withoviparousquadrupeds,theskeletonofthelargeronesismoreorlessosseous;ofthesmallerones,moreorlessspinous。Butallsanguineousanimalshaveabackboneofeitheronekindorother:thatis,composedeitherofboneorofspine。

  Theotherportionsoftheskeletonarefoundinsomeanimalsandnotfoundinothers,butthepresenceortheabsenceofthisandthatpartcarrieswithit,asamatterofcourse,thepresenceortheabsenceofthebonesorthespinescorrespondingtothisorthatpart。Foranimalsthataredestituteofarmsandlegscannotbefurnishedwithlimb-bones:andinlikemannerwithanimalsthathavethesameparts,butyethavethemunlikeinform;forintheseanimalsthecorrespondingbonesdifferfromoneanotherinthewayofrelativeexcessorrelativedefect,orinthewayofanalogytakingtheplaceofidentity。Somuchfortheosseousorspinoussystemsinanimals。

  8

  Gristleisofthesamenatureasbone,butdiffersfromitinthewayofrelativeexcessorrelativedefect。Andjustlikebone,cartilagealso,ifcut,doesnotgrowagain。Interrestrialviviparoussanguineathegristleformationsareunperforated,andthereisnomarrowinthemasthereisinbones;intheselachia,however——for,beitobserved,theyaregristle-spined——thereisfoundinthecaseoftheflatspaceintheregionofthebackbone,agristle-likesubstanceanalogoustobone,andinthisgristle-likesubstancethereisaliquidresemblingmarrow。Inviviparousanimalsfurnishedwithfeet,gristleformationsarefoundintheregionoftheears,inthenostrils,andaroundcertainextremitiesofthebones。

  9

  Furthermore,therearepartsofotherkinds,neitheridenticalwith,noraltogetherdiversefrom,thepartsaboveenumerated:suchasnails,hooves,claws,andhorns;andalso,bytheway,beaks,suchasbirdsarefurnishedwith-allintheseveralanimalsthatarefurnishedtherewithal。Allthesepartsareflexibleandfissile;butboneisneitherflexiblenorfissile,butfrangible。

  Andthecoloursofhornsandnailsandclawandhooffollowthecolouroftheskinandthehair。Foraccordingastheskinofananimalisblack,orwhite,orofmediumhue,soarethehorns,theclaws,orthehooves,asthecasemaybe,ofhuetomatch。Anditisthesamewithnails。Theteeth,however,followafterthebones。

  Thusinblackmen,suchastheAethiopiansandthelike,theteethandbonesarewhite,butthenailsareblack,likethewholeoftheskin。

  Hornsingeneralarehollowattheirpointofattachmenttothebonewhichjutsoutfromtheheadinsidethehorn,buttheyhaveasolidportionatthetip,andtheyaresimpleandundividedinstructure。Inthecaseofthestagaloneofallanimalsthehornsaresolidthroughout,andramifyintobranchesorantlers。And,whereasnootheranimalisknowntosheditshorns,thedeershedsitshornsannually,unlessithasbeencastrated;andwithregardtotheeffectsofcastrationinanimalsweshallhavemuchtosayhereafter。Hornsattachrathertotheskinthantothebone;whichwillaccountforthefactthattherearefoundinPhrygiaandelsewherecattlethatcanmovetheirhornsasfreelyastheirears。

  Ofanimalsfurnishedwithnails-and,bytheway,allanimalshavenailsthathavetoes,andtoesthathavefeet,excepttheelephant;andtheelephanthastoesundividedandslightlyarticulated,buthasnonailswhatsoever——ofanimalsfurnishedwithnails,somearestraight-nailed,likeman;othersarecrookednailed,asthelionamonganimalsthatwalk,andtheeagleamonganimalsthatfly。

  10

  Thefollowingarethepropertiesofhairandofpartsanalogoustohair,andofskinorhide。Allviviparousanimalsfurnishedwithfeethavehair;alloviparousanimalsfurnishedwithfeethavehorn-liketessellates;fishes,andfishesonly,havescales-thatis,suchoviparousfishesashavethecrumblingeggorroe。Forofthelankyfishes,thecongerhasnosuchegg,northemuraena,andtheeelhasnoeggatall。

  Thehairdiffersinthewayofthicknessandfineness,andoflength,accordingtothelocalityofthepartinwhichitisfound,andaccordingtothequalityofskinorhideonwhichitgrows。For,asageneralrule,thethickerthehide,theharderandthethickeristhehair;andthehairisinclinedtogrowinabundanceandtoagreatlengthinlocalitiesofthebodieshollowandmoist,ifthelocalitiesbefittedforthegrowthofhairatall。Thefactsaresimilarinthecaseofanimalswhethercoatedwithscalesorwithtessellates。

  Withsoft-hairedanimalsthehairgetsharderwithgoodfeeding,andwithhard-hairedorbristlyanimalsitgetssofterandscantierfromthesamecause。Hairdiffersinqualityalsoaccordingtotherelativeheatorwarmthofthelocality:justasthehairinmanishardinwarmplacesandsoftincoldones。Again,straighthairisinclinedtobesoft,andcurlyhairtobebristly。

  11

  Hairisnaturallyfissile,andinthisrespectitdiffersindegreeindiverseanimals。Insomeanimalsthehairgoesongraduallyhardeningintobristleuntilitnolongerresembleshairbutspine,asinthecaseofthehedgehog。Andinlikemannerwiththenails;forinsomeanimalsthenaildiffersasregardssolidityinnowayfrombone。

  Ofallanimalsmanhasthemostdelicateskin:thatis,ifwetakeintoconsiderationhisrelativesize。Intheskinorhideofallanimalsthereisamucousliquid,scantyinsomeanimalsandplentifulinothers,as,forinstance,inthehideoftheox;formenmanufactureglueoutofit。And,bytheway,insomecasesglueismanufacturedfromfishesalso。Theskin,whencut,isinitselfdevoidofsensation;andthisisespeciallythecasewiththeskinonthehead,owingtotherebeingnofleshbetweenitandtheskull。

  Andwherevertheskinisquitebyitself,ifitbecutasunder,itdoesnotgrowtogetheragain,asisseeninthethinpartofthejaw,intheprepuce,andtheeyelid。Inallanimalstheskinisoneofthepartsthatextendscontinuousandunbroken,anditcomestoastoponlywherethenaturalductspourouttheircontents,andatthemouthandnails。

  Allsanguineousanimals,then,haveskin;butnotallsuchanimalshavehair,saveonlyunderthecircumstancesdescribedabove。Thehairchangesitscolourasanimalsgrowold,andinmanitturnswhiteorgrey。Withanimals,ingeneral,thechangetakesplace,butnotveryobviously,ornotsoobviouslyasinthecaseofthehorse。Hairturnsgreyfromthepointbackwardstotheroots。But,inthemajorityofcases,greyhairsarewhitefromthebeginning;andthisisaproofthatgreynessofhairdoesnot,assomebelievetobethecase,implywitheringordecrepitude,fornopartisbroughtintoexistenceinawitheredordecrepitcondition。

  Intheeruptivemaladycalledthewhite-sicknessallthehairsgetgrey;andinstanceshavebeenknownwherethehairbecamegreywhilethepatientswereillofthemalady,whereasthegreyhairsshedoffandblackonesreplacedthemontheirrecovery。Hairismoreapttoturngreywhenitiskeptcoveredthanwhenexposedtotheactionoftheouterair。Inmen,thehairoverthetemplesisthefirsttoturngrey,andthehairinthefrontgrowsgreysoonerthanthehairattheback;andthehaironthepubesisthelasttochangecolour。

  Somehairsarecongenital,othersgrowafterthematurityoftheanimal;butthisoccursinmanonly。Thecongenitalhairsareonthehead,theeyelids,andtheeyebrows;ofthelatergrowthsthehairsonthepubesarethefirsttocome,thenthoseunderthearmpits,and,thirdly,thoseonthechin;for,singularlyenough,theregionswherecongenitalgrowthsandthesubsequentgrowthsarefoundareequalinnumber。Thehairontheheadgrowsscantyandshedsouttoagreaterextentandsoonerthanalltherest。Butthisremarkappliesonlytohairinfront;fornomanevergetsbaldatthebackofhishead。Smoothnessonthetopoftheheadistermed\'baldness\',butsmoothnessontheeyebrowsisdenotedbyaspecialtermwhichmeans\'forehead-baldness\';andneitheroftheseconditionsofbaldnesssupervenesinamanuntilheshallhavecomeundertheinfluenceofsexualpassion。Fornoboyevergetsbald,nowoman,andnocastratedman。Infact,ifamanbecastratedbeforereachingpuberty,thelatergrowthsofhairnevercomeatall;and,iftheoperationtakeplacesubsequently,theaftergrowths,andtheseonly,shedoff;

  or,rather,twoofthegrowthsshedoff,butnotthatonthepubes。

  Womendonotgrowhairsonthechin;exceptthatascantybeardgrowsonsomewomenafterthemonthlycourseshavestopped;andsimilarphenomenonisobservedattimesinpriestessesinCaria,butthesecasesarelookeduponasportentouswithregardtocomingevents。Theotherafter-growthsarefoundinwomen,butmorescantyandsparse。Menandwomenareattimesbornconstitutionallyandcongenitallyincapableoftheafter-growths;andindividualsthataredestituteevenofthegrowthuponthepubesareconstitutionallyimpotent。

  Hairasarulegrowsmoreorlessinlengthasthewearergrowsinage;chieflythehaironthehead,thenthatinthebeard,andfinehairgrowslongestofall。Withsomepeopleastheygrowoldtheeyebrowsgrowthicker,tosuchanextentthattheyhavetobecutoff;

  andthisgrowthisowingtothefactthattheeyebrowsaresituatedataconjunctureofbones,andthesebones,asagecomeson,drawapartandexudeagradualincreaseofmoistureorrheum。Theeyelashesdonotgrowinsize,buttheyshedwhenthewearercomesfirstundertheinfluenceofsexualfeelings,andshedallthequickerasthisinfluenceisthemorepowerful;andthesearethelasthairstogrowgrey。

  Hairsifpluckedoutbeforematuritygrowagain;buttheydonotgrowagainifpluckedoutafterwards。Everyhairissuppliedwithamucousmoistureatitsroot,andimmediatelyafterbeingpluckedoutitcanliftlightarticlesifittouchthemwiththismucus。

  Animalsthatadmitofdiversityofcolourinthehairadmitofasimilardiversitytostartwithintheskinandinthecuticleofthetongue。

  Insomecasesamongmentheupperlipandthechinisthicklycoveredwithhair,andinothercasesthesepartsaresmoothandthecheeksarehairy;and,bytheway,smooth-chinnedmenarelessinclinedthanbeardedmentobaldness。

  Thehairisinclinedtogrowincertaindiseases,especiallyinconsumption,andinoldage,andafterdeath;andunderthesecircumstancesthehairhardensconcomitantlywithitsgrowth,andthesameduplicatephenomenonisobservableinrespectofthenails。

  Inthecaseofmenofstrongsexualpassionsthecongenitalhairsshedthesooner,whilethehairsoftheafter-growthsarethequickertocome。Whenmenareafflictedwithvaricoseveinstheyarelessinclinedtotakeonbaldness;andiftheybebaldwhentheybecomethusafflicted,theyhaveatendencytogettheirhairagain。

  Ifahairbecut,itdoesnotgrowatthepointofsection;butitgetslongerbygrowingupwardfrombelow。Infishesthescalesgrowharderandthickerwithage,andwhentheamimalgetsemaciatedorisgrowingoldthescalesgrowharder。Inquadrupedsastheygrowoldthehairinsomeandthewoolinothersgetsdeeperbutscantierinamount:andthehoovesorclawsgetlargerinsize;andthesameisthecasewiththebeaksofbirds。Theclawsalsoincreaseinsize,asdoalsothenails。

  12

  Withregardtowingedanimals,suchasbirds,nocreatureisliabletochangeofcolourbyreasonofage,exceptingthecrane。

  Thewingsofthisbirdareash-colouredatfirst,butasitgrowsoldthewingsgetblack。Again,owingtospecialclimaticinfluences,aswhenunusualfrostprevails,achangeissometimesobservedtotakeplaceinbirdswhoseplumageisofoneuniformcolour;thus,birdsthathaveduskyordownrightblackplumageturnwhiteorgrey,astheraven,thesparrow,andtheswallow;butnocasehaseveryetbeenknownofachangeofcolourfromwhitetoblack。

  Further,mostbirdschangethecolouroftheirplumageatdifferentseasonsoftheyear,somuchsothatamanignorantoftheirhabitsmightbemistakenastotheiridentity。Someanimalschangethecolouroftheirhairwithachangeintheirdrinking-water,forinsomecountriesthesamespeciesofanimalisfoundwhiteinonedistrictandblackinanother。Andinregardtothecommerceofthesexes,waterinmanyplacesisofsuchpeculiarqualitythatrams,iftheyhaveintercoursewiththefemaleafterdrinkingit,begetblacklambs,asisthecasewiththewaterofthePsychrusso-calledfromitscoldness,ariverinthedistrictofAssyritisintheChalcidicPeninsula,onthecoastofThrace;andinAntandriatherearetworiversofwhichonemakesthelambswhiteandtheotherblack。TheriverScamanderalsohasthereputationofmakinglambsyellow,andthatisthereason,theysay,whyHomerdesignatesitthe\'YellowRiver。\'Animalsasageneralrulehavenohairontheirinternalsurfaces,and,inregardtotheirextremities,theyhavehairontheupper,butnotonthelowerside。

  Thehare,ordasypod,istheonlyanimalknowntohavehairinsideitsmouthandunderneathitsfeet。Further,theso-calledmousewhaleinsteadofteethhashairsinitsmouthresemblingpigs\'bristles。

  Hairsafterbeingcutgrowatthebottombutnotatthetop;iffeathersbecutoff,theygrowneitherattopnorbottom,butshedandfallout。Further,thebee\'swingwillnotgrowagainafterbeingpluckedoff,norwillthewingofanycreaturethathasundividedwings。Neitherwillthestinggrowagainifthebeeloseit,butthecreaturewilldieoftheloss。

  13

  Inallsanguineousanimalsmembranesarefound。Andmembraneresemblesathinclose-texturedskin,butitsqualitiesaredifferent,asitadmitsneitherofcleavagenorofextension。Membraneenvelopseachoneofthebonesandeachoneoftheviscera,bothinthelargerandthesmalleranimals;thoughinthesmalleranimalsthemembranesareindiscerniblefromtheirextremetenuityandminuteness。

  Thelargestofallthemembranesarethetwothatsurroundthebrain,andofthesetwotheonethatlinesthebonyskullisstrongerandthickerthantheonethatenvelopsthebrain;nextinorderofmagnitudecomesthemembranethatenclosestheheart。Ifmembranebebaredandcutasunderitwillnotgrowtogetheragain,andthebonethusstrippedofitsmembranemortifies。

  14

  Theomentumorcaul,bytheway,ismembrane。Allsanguineousanimalsarefurnishedwiththisorgan;butinsomeanimalstheorganissuppliedwithfat,andinothersitisdevoidofit。Theomentumhasbothitsstarting-pointanditsattachment,withambidentalvivipara,inthecentreofthestomach,wherethestomachhasakindofsuture;innon-ambidentalviviparaithasitsstarting-pointandattachmentinthechiefoftheruminatingstomachs。

  15

  Thebladderalsoisofthenatureofmembrane,butofmembranepeculiarinkind,foritisextensile。Theorganisnotcommontoallanimals,but,whileitisfoundinallthevivipara,thetortoiseistheonlyoviparousanimalthatisfurnishedtherewithal。

  Thebladder,likeordinarymembrane,ifcutasunderwillnotgrowtogetheragain,unlessthesectionbejustatthecommencementoftheurethra:exceptindeedinveryrarecases,forinstancesofhealinghavebeenknowntooccur。Afterdeath,theorganpassesnoliquidexcretion;butinlife,inadditiontothenormalliquidexcretion,itpassesattimesdryexcretionalso,whichturnsintostonesinthecaseofsufferersfromthatmalady。Indeed,instanceshavebeenknownofconcretionsinthebladdersoshapedascloselytoresemblecockleshells。

  Sucharetheproperties,then,ofvein,sinewandskin,offibreandmembrane,ofhair,nail,clawandhoof,ofhorns,ofteeth,ofbeak,ofgristle,ofbones,andofpartsthatareanalogoustoanyofthepartshereenumerated。

  16

  Flesh,andthatwhichisbynatureakintoitinsanguineousanimals,isinallcasessituatedinbetweentheskinandthebone,orthesubstanceanalogoustobone;forjustasspineisacounterpartofbone,soistheflesh-likesubstanceofanimalsthatareconstructedaspinoussystemthecounterpartofthefleshofanimalsconstructedonanosseousone。

  Fleshcanbedividedasunderinanydirection,notlengthwiseonlyasisthecasewithsinewandvein。Whenanimalsaresubjectedtoemaciationthefleshdisappears,andthecreaturesbecomeamassofveinsandfibres;whentheyareoverfed,fattakestheplaceofflesh。Wherethefleshisabundantinananimal,itsveinsaresomewhatsmallandthebloodabnormallyred;thevisceraalsoandthestomacharediminutive;whereaswithanimalswhoseveinsarelargethebloodissomewhatblack,thevisceraandthestomacharelarge,andthefleshissomewhatscanty。Andanimalswithsmallstomachsaredisposedtotakeonflesh。

  17

  Again,fatandsuetdifferfromoneanother。Suetisfrangibleinalldirectionsandcongealsifsubjectedtoextremecold,whereasfatcanmeltbutcannotfreezeorcongeal;andsoupsmadeofthefleshofanimalssuppliedwithfatdonotcongealorcoagulate,asisfoundwithhorse-fleshandpork;butsoupsmadefromthefleshofanimalssuppliedwithsuetdocoagulate,asisseenwithmuttonandgoat\'sflesh。Further,fatandsuetdifferastotheirlocalities:forfatisfoundbetweentheskinandflesh,butsuetisfoundonlyatthelimitofthefleshyparts。Also,inanimalssuppliedwithfattheomentumorcaulissuppliedwithfat,anditissuppliedwithsuetinanimalssuppliedwithsuet。Moreover,ambidentalanimalsaresuppliedwithfat,andnon-ambidentalswithsuet。

  Ofthevisceratheliverinsomeanimalsbecomesfatty,as,amongfishes,isthecasewiththeselachia,bythemeltingofwhoseliversanoilismanufactured。Thesecartilaginousfishthemselveshavenofreefatatallinconnexionwiththefleshorwiththestomach。Thesuetinfishisfatty,anddoesnotsolidifyorcongeal。Allanimalsarefurnishedwithfat,eitherintermingledwiththeirflesh,orapart。Suchashavenofreeorseparatefatarelessfatthanothersinstomachandomentum,astheeel;forithasonlyascantysupplyofsuetabouttheomentum。Mostanimalstakeonfatinthebelly,especiallysuchanimalsasarelittleinmotion。

  Thebrainsofanimalssuppliedwithfatareoily,asinthepig;

  ofanimalssuppliedwithsuet,parchedanddry。Butitisaboutthekidneysmorethananyotherviscerathatanimalsareinclinedtotakeonfat;andtherightkidneyisalwayslesssuppliedwithfatthantheleftkidney,and,bethetwokidneyseversofat,thereisalwaysaspacedevoidoffatinbetweenthetwo。Animalssuppliedwithsuetarespeciallyapttohaveitaboutthekidneys,andespeciallythesheep;forthisanimalisapttodiefromitskidneysbeingentirelyenveloped。Fatorsuetaboutthekidneyissuperinducedbyoverfeeding,asisfoundatLeontiniinSicily;andconsequentlyinthisdistricttheydeferdrivingoutsheeptopastureuntilthedayiswellon,withtheviewoflimitingtheirfoodbycurtailmentofthehoursofpasture。

  18

  Thepartaroundthepupiloftheeyeisfattyinallanimals,andthispartresemblessuetinallanimalsthatpossesssuchapartandthatarenotfurnishedwithhardeyes。

  Fatanimals,whethermaleorfemale,aremoreorlessunfittedforbreedingpurposes。Animalsaredisposedtotakeonfatmorewhenoldthanwhenyoung,andespeciallywhentheyhaveattainedtheirfullbreadthandtheirfulllengthandarebeginningtogrowdepthways。

  19

  Andnowtoproceedtotheconsiderationoftheblood。Insanguineousanimalsbloodisthemostuniversalandthemostindispensablepart;anditisnotanacquiredoradventitiouspart,butitisaconsubstantialpartofallanimalsthatarenotcorruptormoribund。Allbloodiscontainedinavascularsystem,towit,theveins,andisfoundnowhereelse,exceptingintheheart。Bloodisnotsensitivetotouchinanyanimal,anymorethantheexcretionsofthestomach;andthecaseissimilarwiththebrainandthemarrow。

  Whenfleshislacerated,bloodexudes,iftheanimalbealiveandunlessthefleshbegangrened。Bloodinahealthyconditionisnaturallysweettothetaste,andredincolour,bloodthatdeterioratesfromnaturaldecayorfromdiseasemoreorlessblack。

  Bloodatitsbest,beforeitundergoesdeteriorationfromeithernaturaldecayorfromdisease,isneitherverythicknorverythin。Inthelivinganimalitisalwaysliquidandwarm,but,onissuingfromthebody,itcoagulatesinallcasesexceptinthecaseofthedeer,theroe,andthelikeanimals;for,asageneralrule,bloodcoagulatesunlessthefibresbeextracted。Bull\'sbloodisthequickesttocoagulate。

  Animalsthatareinternallyandexternallyviviparousaremoreabundantlysuppliedwithbloodthanthesanguineousovipara。Animalsthatareingoodcondition,eitherfromnaturalcausesorfromtheirhealthhavingbeenattendedto,havethebloodneithertooabundant-ascreaturesjustafterdrinkinghavetheliquidinsidetheminabundance-noragainveryscanty,asisthecasewithanimalswhenexceedinglyfat。Foranimalsinthisconditionhavepureblood,butverylittleofit,andthefatterananimalgetsthelessbecomesitssupplyofblood;forwhatsoeverisfatisdestituteofblood。

  Afatsubstanceisincorruptible,butbloodandallthingscontainingitcorruptrapidly,andthispropertycharacterizesespeciallyallpartsconnectedwiththebones。Bloodisfinestandpurestinman;andthickestandblackestinthebullandtheass,ofallvivipara。Inthelowerandthehigherpartsofthebodybloodisthickerandblackerthaninthecentralparts。

  Bloodbeatsorpalpitatesintheveinsofallanimalsalikeallovertheirbodies,andbloodistheonlyliquidthatpermeatestheentireframesoflivinganimals,withoutexceptionandatalltimes,aslongaslifelasts。Bloodisdevelopedfirstofallintheheartofanimalsbeforethebodyisdifferentiatedasawhole。Ifbloodberemovedorifitescapeinanyconsiderablequantity,animalsfallintoafaintorswoon;ifitberemovedorifitescapeinanexceedinglylargequantitytheydie。Ifthebloodgetexceedinglyliquid,animalsfallsick;forthebloodthenturnsintosomethinglikeichor,oraliquidsothinthatitattimeshasbeenknowntoexudethroughtheporeslikesweat。Insomecasesblood,whenissuingfromtheveins,doesnotcoagulateatall,oronlyhereandthere。Whilstanimalsaresleepingthebloodislessabundantlysuppliedneartheexteriorsurfaces,sothat,ifthesleepingcreaturebeprickedwithapin,theblooddoesnotissueascopiouslyasitwouldifthecreaturewereawake。Bloodisdevelopedoutofichorbycoction,andfatinlikemanneroutofblood。Ifthebloodgetdiseased,haemorrhoidsmayensueinthenostrilorattheanus,ortheveinsmaybecomevaricose。Blood,ifitcorruptinthebody,hasatendencytoturnintopus,andpusmayturnintoasolidconcretion。

  Bloodinthefemalediffersfromthatinthemale,for,supposingthemaleandfemaletobeonaparasregardsageandgeneralhealth,thebloodinthefemaleisthickerandblackerthaninthemale;andwiththefemalethereisacomparativesuperabundanceofitintheinterior。Ofallfemaleanimalsthefemaleinmanisthemostrichlysuppliedwithblood,andofallfemaleanimalsthemenstruousdischargesarethemostcopiousinwoman。Thebloodofthesedischargesunderdiseaseturnsintoflux。Apartfromthemenstrualdischarges,thefemaleinthehumanspeciesislesssubjecttodiseasesofthebloodthanthemale。

  Womenareseldomafflictedwithvaricoseveins,withhaemorrhoids,orwithbleedingatthenose,and,ifanyofthesemaladiessupervene,themensesareimperfectlydischarged。

  Blooddiffersinquantityandappearanceaccordingtoage;inveryyounganimalsitresemblesichorandisabundant,intheolditisthickandblackandscarce,andinmiddle-agedanimalsitsqualitiesareintermediate。Inoldanimalsthebloodcoagulatesrapidly,evenbloodatthesurfaceofthebody;butthisisnotthecasewithyounganimals。Ichoris,infact,nothingelsebutunconcoctedblood:eitherbloodthathasnotyetbeenconcocted,orthathasbecomefluidagain。

  20

  Wenowproceedtodiscussthepropertiesofmarrow;forthisisoneoftheliquidsfoundincertainsanguineousanimals。Allthenaturalliquidsofthebodyarecontainedinvessels:asbloodinveins,marrowinbonesothermoisturesinmembranousstructuresoftheskinInyounganimalsthemarrowisexceedinglysanguineous,but,asanimalsgrowold,itbecomesfattyinanimalssuppliedwithfat,andsuet-likeinanimalswithsuet。Allbones,however,arenotsuppliedwithmarrow,butonlythehollowones,andnotallofthese。Forofthebonesinthelionsomecontainnomarrowatall,andsomeareonlyscantilysuppliedtherewith;andthataccounts,aswaspreviouslyobserved,forthestatementmadebycertainwritersthatthelionismarrowless。Inthebonesofpigsitisfoundinsmallquantities;

  andinthebonesofcertainanimalsofthisspeciesitisnotfoundatall。

  Theseliquids,then,arenearlyalwayscongenitalinanimals,butmilkandspermcomeatalatertime。Oftheselatter,thatwhich,whensoeveritispresent,issecretedinallcasesready-made,isthemilk;sperm,ontheotherhand,isnotsecretedoutinallcases,butinsomeonly,asinthecaseofwhataredesignatedthoriinfishes。

  Whateveranimalshavemilk,haveitintheirbreasts。Allanimalshavebreaststhatareinternallyandexternallyviviparous,asforinstanceallanimalsthathavehair,asmanandthehorse;andthecetaceans,asthedolphin,theporpoise,andthewhale-fortheseanimalshavebreastsandaresuppliedwithmilk。Animalsthatareoviparousoronlyexternallyviviparoushaveneitherbreastsnormilk,asthefishandthebird。

  Allmilkiscomposedofawateryserumcalled\'whey\',andaconsistentsubstancecalledcurdorcheese;andthethickerthemilk,themoreabundantthecurd。Themilk,then,ofnon-ambidentalscoagulates,andthatiswhycheeseismadeofthemilkofsuchanimalsunderdomestication;butthemilkofambidentalsdoesnotcoagulate,northeirfateither,andthemilkisthinandsweet。Nowthecamel\'smilkisthethinnest,andthatofthehumanspeciesnextafterit,andthatoftheassnextagain,butcow\'smilkisthethickest。

  Milkdoesnotcoagulateundertheinfluenceofcold,butratherrunstowhey;butundertheinfluenceofheatitcoagulatesandthickens。

  Asageneralrulemilkonlycomestoanimalsinpregnancy。Whentheanimalispregnantmilkisfound,butforawhileitisunfitforuse,andthenafteranintervalofusefulnessitbecomesunfitforuseagain。Inthecaseoffemaleanimalsnotpregnantasmallquantityofmilkhasbeenprocuredbytheemploymentofspecialfood,andcaseshavebeenactuallyknownwherewomenadvancedinyearsonbeingsubmittedtotheprocessofmilkinghaveproducedmilk,andinsomecaseshaveproduceditinsufficientquantitiestoenablethemtosuckleaninfant。

  ThepeoplethatliveonandaboutMountOetatakesuchshe-goatsasdeclinethemaleandrubtheiruddershardwithnettlestocauseanirritationamountingtopain;hereupontheymilktheanimals,procuringatfirstaliquidresemblingblood,thenaliquidmixedwithpurulentmatter,andeventuallymilk,asfreelyasfromfemalessubmittingtothemale。

  Asageneralrule,milkisnotfoundinthemaleofmanorofanyotheranimal,thoughfromtimetotimeithasbeenfoundinamale;forinstance,onceinLemnosahe-goatwasmilkedbyitsdugsforithas,bytheway,twodugsclosetothepenis,andwasmilkedtosucheffectthatcheesewasmadeoftheproduce,andthesamephenomenonwasrepeatedinamaleofitsownbegetting。Suchoccurrences,however,areregardedassupernaturalandfraughtwithomenastofuturity,andinpointoffactwhentheLemnianowneroftheanimalinquiredoftheoracle,thegodinformedhimthattheportentforeshadowedtheacquisitionofafortune。Withsomemen,afterpuberty,milkcanbeproducedbysqueezingthebreasts;caseshavebeenknownwhereontheirbeingsubjectedtoaprolongedmilkingprocessaconsiderablequantityofmilkhasbeeneduced。

  Inmilkthereisafattyelement,whichinclottedmilkgetstoresembleoil。Goat\'smilkismixedwithsheep\'smilkinSicily,andwhereversheep\'smilkisabundant。Thebestmilkforclottingisnotonlythatwherethecheeseismostabundant,butthatalsowherethecheeseisdriest。

  Nowsomeanimalsproducenotonlyenoughmilktoreartheiryoung,butasuperfluousamountforgeneraluse,forcheese-makingandforstorage。Thisisespeciallythecasewiththesheepandthegoat,andnextindegreewiththecow。Mare\'smilk,bytheway,andmilkoftheshe-assaremixedinwithPhrygiancheese。Andthereismorecheeseincow\'smilkthaningoat\'smilk;forgrazierstellusthatfromninegallonsofgoat\'smilktheycangetnineteencheesesatanobolapiece,andfromthesameamountofcow\'smilk,thirty。Otheranimalsgiveonlyenoughofmilktoreartheiryoungwithal,andnosuperfluousamountandnonefittedforcheese-making,asisthecasewithallanimalsthathavemorethantwobreastsordugs;forwithnoneofsuchanimalsismilkproducedinsuperabundanceorusedforthemanufactureofcheese。

  Thejuiceofthefigandrennetareemployedtocurdlemilk。Thefig-juiceisfirstsqueezedoutintowool;thewoolisthenwashedandrinsed,andtherinsingputintoalittlemilk,andifthisbemixedwithothermilkitcurdlesRennetisakindofmilk,foritisfoundinthestomachoftheanimalwhileitisyetsuckling。

  21

  Rennetthenconsistsofmilkwithanadmixtureoffire,whichcomesfromthenaturalheatoftheanimal,asthemilkisconcocted。

  Allruminatinganimalsproducerennet,and,ofambidentals,thehare。Rennetimprovesinqualitythelongeritiskept;andcow\'srennet,afterbeingkeptagoodwhile,andalsohare\'srennet,isgoodfordiarrhoea,andthebestofallrennetisthatoftheyoungdeer。

  Inmilk-producinganimalsthecomparativeamountoftheyieldvarieswiththesizeoftheanimalandthediversitiesofpasturage。

  Forinstance,thereareinPhasissmallcattlethatinallcasesgiveacopioussupplyofmilk,andthelargecowsinEpirusyieldeachonedailysomeninegallonsofmilk,andhalfofthisfromeachpairofteats,andthemilkerhastostanderect,stoopingforwardalittle,asotherwise,ifhewereseated,hewouldbeunabletoreachuptotheteats。But,withtheexceptionoftheass,allthequadrupedsinEpirusareoflargesize,andrelatively,thecattleandthedogsarethelargest。Nowlargeanimalsrequireabundantpasture,andthiscountrysuppliesjustsuchpasturage,andalsosuppliesdiversepasturegroundstosuitthediverseseasonsoftheyear。Thecattleareparticularlylarge,andlikewisethesheepoftheso-calledPyrrhicbreed,thenamebeinggiveninhonourofKingPyrrhus。

  Somepasturequenchesmilk,asMediangrassorlucerne,andthatespeciallyinruminants;otherfeedingrendersitcopious,ascytisusandvetch;only,bytheway,cytisusinflowerisnotrecommended,asithasburningproperties,andvetchisnotgoodforpregnantkine,asitcausesincreaseddifficultyinparturition。

  However,beaststhathaveaccesstogoodfeeding,astheyarebenefitedtherebyinregardtopregnancy,soalsobeingwellnourishedproducemilkinplenty。Someoftheleguminousplantsbringmilkinabundance,asforinstance,alargefeedofbeanswiththeewe,thecommonshe-goat,thecow,andthesmallshe-goat;forthisfeedingmakesthemdroptheirudders。And,bytheway,thepointingoftheuddertothegroundbeforeparturitionisasignoftherebeingplentyofmilkcoming。

  Milkremainsforalongtimeinthefemale,ifshebekeptfromthemaleandbeproperlyfed,and,ofquadrupeds,thisisespeciallytrueoftheewe;fortheewecanbemilkedforeightmonths。Asageneralrule,ruminatinganimalsgivemilkinabundance,andmilkfittedforcheesemanufacture。IntheneighbourhoodofToronecowsrundryforafewdaysbeforecalving,andhavemilkalltherestofthetime。Inwomen,milkofalividcolourisbetterthanwhitefornursingpurposes;andswarthywomengivehealthiermilkthanfairones。Milkthatisrichestincheeseisthemostnutritious,butmilkwithascantysupplyofcheeseisthemorewholesomeforchildren。

  22

  Allsanguineousanimalsejectsperm。Astowhat,andhow,itcontributestogeneration,thesequestionswillbediscussedinanothertreatise。Takingthesizeofhisbodyintoaccount,manemitsmorespermthananyotheranimal。Inhairy-coatedanimalsthespermissticky,butinotheranimalsitisnotso。Itiswhiteinallcases,andHerodotusisunderamisapprehensionwhenhestatesthattheAethiopiansejectblacksperm。

  Spermissuesfromthebodywhiteandconsistent,ifitbehealthy,andafterquittingthebodybecomesthinandblack。Infrostyweatheritdoesnotcoagulate,butgetsexceedinglythinandwaterybothincolourandconsistency;butitcoagulatesandthickensundertheinfluenceofheat。Ifitbelonginthewombbeforeissuingout,itcomesmorethanusuallythick;andsometimesitcomesoutdryandcompact。Spermcapableofimpregnatingoroffructificationsinksinwater;spermincapableOfproducingthatresultdissolvesaway。ButthereisnotruthinwhatCtesiashaswrittenaboutthespermoftheelephant。

  BookIV

  1

  Wehavenowtreated,inregardtobloodedanimalsofthepartstheyhaveincommonandofthepartspeculiartothisgenusorthat,andofthepartsbothcompositeandsimple,whetherwithoutorwithin。

  Wenowproceedtotreatofanimalsdevoidofblood。Theseanimalsaredividedintoseveralgenera。

  Onegenusconsistsofso-called\'molluscs\';andbytheterm\'mollusc\'wemeanananimalthat,beingdevoidofblood,hasitsflesh-likesubstanceoutside,andanyhardstructureitmayhappentohave,inside-inthisrespectresemblingthered-bloodedanimals,suchasthegenusofthecuttle-fish。

  Anothergenusisthatofthemalacostraca。Theseareanimalsthathavetheirhardstructureoutside,andtheirsoftorfleshlikesubstanceinside,andthehardsubstancebelongingtothemhastobecrushedratherthanshattered;andtothisgenusbelongsthecrawfishandthecrab。

  Athirdgenusisthatoftheostracodermsor\'testaceans\'。Theseareanimalsthathavetheirhardsubstanceoutsideandtheirflesh-likesubstancewithin,andtheirhardsubstancecanbeshatteredbutnotcrushed;andtothisgenusbelongthesnailandtheoyster。

  Thefourthgenusisthatofinsects;andthisgenuscomprehendsnumerousanddissimilarspecies。Insectsarecreaturesthat,asthenameimplies,havenickseitheronthebellyorontheback,oronbothbellyandback,andhavenoonepartdistinctlyosseousandnoonepartdistinctlyfleshy,butarethroughoutasomethingintermediatebetweenboneandflesh;thatistosay,theirbodyishardallthrough,insideandoutside。Someinsectsarewingless,suchastheiulusandthecentipede;somearewinged,asthebee,thecockchafer,andthewasp;andthesamekindisinsomecasesbothwingedandwingless,astheantandtheglow-worm。

  Inmolluscstheexternalpartsareasfollows:inthefirstplace,theso-calledfeet;secondly,andattachedtothese,thehead;

  thirdly,themantle-sac,containingtheinternalparts,andincorrectlydesignatedbysomewritersthehead;and,fourthly,finsroundaboutthesac。Seediagram。Inallmolluscstheheadisfoundtobebetweenthefeetandthebelly。Allmolluscsarefurnishedwitheightfeet,andinallcasesthesefeetareseverallyfurnishedwithadoublerowofsuckers,withtheexceptionofonesinglespeciesofpoulpeoroctopus。Thesepia,thesmallcalamaryandthelargecalamaryhaveanexceptionalorganinapairoflongarmsortentacles,havingattheirextremitiesaportionrenderedroughbythepresenceoftworowsofsuckers;andwiththesearmsortentaclestheyapprehendtheirfoodanddrawitintotheirmouths,andinstormyweathertheyclingbythemtoarockandswayaboutintheroughwaterlikeshipslyingatanchor。Theyswimbytheaidofthefinsthattheyhaveaboutthesac。Inallcasestheirfeetarefurnishedwithsuckers。

  Theoctopus,bytheway,useshisfeelerseitherasfeetorhands;

  withthetwowhichstandoverhismouthhedrawsinfood,andthelastofhisfeelersheemploysintheactofcopulation;andthislastone,bytheway,isextremelysharp,isexceptionalasbeingofawhitishcolour,andatitsextremityisbifurcate;thatistosay,ithasanadditionalsomethingontherachis,andbyrachisismeantthesmoothsurfaceoredgeofthearmonthefarsidefromthesuckers。

  Seediagram。

  Infrontofthesacandoverthefeelerstheyhaveahollowtube,bymeansofwhichtheydischargeanysea-waterthattheymayhavetakenintothesacofthebodyintheactofreceivingfoodbythemouth。Theycanshiftthetubefromsidetoside,andbymeansofittheydischargetheblackliquidpeculiartotheanimal。

  Stretchingoutitsfeet,itswimsobliquelyinthedirectionoftheso-calledhead,andbythismodeofswimmingitcanseeinfront,foritseyesareatthetop,andinthisattitudeithasitsmouthattherear。The\'head\',whilethecreatureisalive,ishard,andlooksasthoughitwereinflated。Itapprehendsandretainsobjectsbymeansoftheunder-surfaceofitsarms,andthemembraneinbetweenitsfeetiskeptatfulltension;iftheanimalgetontothesanditcannolongerretainitshold。

  Thereisadifferencebetweentheoctopusandtheothermolluscsabovementioned:thebodyoftheoctopusissmall,andhisfeetarelong,whereasintheothersthebodyislargeandthefeetshort;soshort,infact,thattheycannotwalkonthem。Comparedwithoneanother,theteuthis,orcalamary,islong-shaped,andthesepiaflat-shaped;andofthecalamariestheso-calledteuthusismuchbiggerthantheteuthis;forteuthihavebeenfoundasmuchasfiveellslong。Somesepiaeattainalengthoftwoells,andthefeelersoftheoctopusaresometimesaslong,orevenlonger。Thespeciesteuthusisnotanumerousone;theteuthusdiffersfromtheteuthisinshape;thatis,thesharpextremityoftheteuthusisbroaderthanthatoftheother,and,further,theencirclingfingoesallroundthetrunk,whereasitisinpartlackingintheteuthis;bothanimalsarepelagic。

  Inallcasestheheadcomesafterthefeet,inthemiddleofthefeetthatarecalledarmsorfeelers。Thereisheresituatedamouth,andtwoteethinthemouth;andabovethesetwolargeeyes,andbetwixttheeyesasmallcartilageenclosingasmallbrain;andwithinthemouthithasaminuteorganofafleshynature,andthisitusesasatongue,fornoothertonguedoesitpossess。Nextafterthis,ontheoutside,iswhatlookslikeasac;thefleshofwhichitismadeisdivisible,notinlongstraightstrips,butinannularflakes;

  andallmolluscshaveacuticlearoundthisflesh。Nextafteroratthebackofthemouthcomesalongandnarrowoesophagus,andcloseafterthatacroporcraw,largeandspherical,likethatofabird;

  thencomesthestomach,likethefourthstomachinruminants;andtheshapeofitresemblesthespiralconvolutioninthetrumpet-shell;

  fromthestomachtheregoesbackagain,inthedirectionofthemouth,thingut,andthegutisthickerthantheoesophagus。Seediagram。

  Molluscshavenoviscera,buttheyhavewhatiscalledamytis,andonitavesselcontainingathickblackjuice;inthesepiaorcuttle-fishthisvesselisthelargest,andthisjuiceismostabundant。Allmolluscs,whenfrightened,dischargesuchajuice,butthedischargeismostcopiousinthecuttle-fish。Themytis,then,issituatedunderthemouth,andtheoesophagusrunsthroughit;anddownbelowatthepointtowhichthegutextendsisthevesicleoftheblackjuice,andtheanimalhasthevesicleandthegutenvelopedinoneandthesamemembrane,andbythesamemembrane,sameorificedischargesboththeblackjuiceandtheresiduum。Theanimalshavealsocertainhair-likeorfurrygrowthsintheirbodies。

  Inthesepia,theteuthis,andtheteuthusthehardpartsarewithin,towardsthebackofthebody;thosepartsarecalledinonethesepium,andintheotherthe\'sword\'。Theydifferfromoneanother,forthesepiuminthecuttle-fishandteuthusishardandflat,beingasubstanceintermediatebetweenboneandfishbone,withinpartacrumbling,spongytexture,butintheteuthisthepartisthinandsomewhatgristly。Thesepartsdifferfromoneanotherinshape,asdoalsothebodiesoftheanimals。Theoctopushasnothinghardofthiskindinitsinterior,butithasagristlysubstanceroundthehead,which,iftheanimalgrowsold,becomeshard。

  Thefemalesdifferfromthemales。Themaleshaveaductinundertheoesophagus,extendingfromthemantle-cavitytothelowerportionofthesac,andthereisanorgantowhichitattaches,resemblingabreast;seediagraminthefemaletherearetwooftheseorgans,situatedhigherup;seediagramwithbothsexesthereareunderneaththeseorganscertainredformations。Theeggoftheoctopusissingle,unevenonitssurface,andoflargesize;thefluidsubstancewithinisalluniformincolour,smooth,andincolourwhite;thesizeoftheeggissogreatastofillavessellargerthanthecreature\'shead。Thesepiahastwosacs,andinsidethemanumberofeggs,likeinappearancetowhitehailstones。ForthedispositionofthesepartsImustrefertomyanatomicaldiagrams。

  Themalesofalltheseanimalsdifferfromthefemales,andthedifferencebetweenthesexesismostmarkedinthesepia;forthebackofthetrunk,whichisblackerthanthebelly,isrougherinthemalethaninthefemale,andinthemalethebackisstriped,andtherumpismoresharplypointed。

  Thereareseveralspeciesoftheoctopus。Onekeepsclosetothesurface,andisthelargestofthemall,andneartheshorethesizeislargerthanindeepwater;andthereareothers,small,variegatedincolour,whicharenotarticlesoffood。Therearetwoothers,onecalledtheheledone,whichdiffersfromitscongenersinthelengthofitslegsandinhavingonerowofsuckers-alltherestofthemolluscshavingtwo,-theothernicknamedvariouslythebolitainaorthe\'onion,\'andtheozolisorthe\'stinkard\'。

  Therearetwoothersfoundinshellsresemblingthoseofthetestaceans。Oneofthemisnicknamedbysomepersonsthenautilusorthepontilus,orbyothersthe\'polypus\'egg\';andtheshellofthiscreatureissomethinglikeaseparatevalveofadeepscallop-shell。

  Thispolypuslivesveryoftenneartotheshore,andisapttobethrownuphighanddryonthebeach;underthesecircumstancesitisfoundwithitsshelldetached,anddiesbyandbyondryland。Thesepolypodsaresmall,andareshaped,asregardstheformoftheirbodies,likethebolbidia。Thereisanotherpolypusthatisplacedwithinashelllikeasnail;itnevercomesoutoftheshell,butlivesinsidetheshelllikethesnail,andfromtimetotimeprotrudesitsfeelers。

  Somuchformolluscs。

  2

  WithregardtotheMalacostracaorcrustaceans,onespeciesisthatofthecrawfish,andasecond,resemblingthefirst,isthatofthelobster;thelobsterdifferingfromthecrawfishinhavingclaws,andinafewotherrespectsaswell。Anotherspeciesisthatofthecarid,andanotheristhatofthecrab,andtherearemanykindsbothofcaridandofcrab。

  Ofcaridstherearetheso-calledcyphae,or\'hunch-backs\',thecrangons,orsquillae,andthelittlekind,orshrimps,andthelittlekinddonotdevelopintoalargerkind。

  Ofthecrab,thevarietiesareindefiniteandincalculable。ThelargestofallcrabsisonenicknamedMaia,asecondvarietyisthepagarusandthecrabofHeracleotis,andathirdvarietyisthefresh-watercrab;theothervarietiesaresmallerinsizeanddestituteofspecialdesignations。IntheneighbourhoodofPhoenicetherearefoundonthebeachcertaincrabsthatarenicknamedthe\'horsemen\',fromtheirrunningwithsuchspeedthatitisdifficulttoovertakethem;thesecrabs,whenopened,areusuallyfoundempty,andthisemptinessmaybeputdowntoinsufficiencyofnutriment。

  Thereisanothervariety,smalllikethecrab,butresemblinginshapethelobster。Alltheseanimals,ashasbeenstated,havetheirhardandshellypartoutside,wheretheskinisinotheranimals,andthefleshypartinside;andthebellyismoreorlessprovidedwithlamellae,orlittleflaps,andthefemaleheredepositsherspawn。

  Thecrawfisheshavefivefeetoneitherside,includingtheclawsattheend;andinlikemannerthecrabshavetenfeetinall,includingtheclaws。Ofthecarids,thehunch-backed,orprawns,havefivefeetoneitherside,whicharesharp-pointed-thosetowardsthehead;andfiveothersoneithersideintheregionofthebelly,withtheirextremitiesflat;theyaredevoidofflapsontheundersidesuchasthecrawfishhas,butonthebacktheyresemblethecrawfish。Seediagram。Itisverydifferentwiththecrangon,orsquilla;ithasfourfrontlegsoneitherside,thenthreethinonesclosebehindoneitherside,andtherestofthebodyisforthemostpartdevoidoffeet。Seediagram。Ofalltheseanimalsthefeetbendoutobliquely,asisthecasewithinsects;andtheclaws,whereclawsarefound,turninwards。Thecrawfishhasatail,andfivefinsonit;andtheround-backedcaridhasatailandfourfins;thesquillaalsohasfinsatthetailoneitherside。Inthecaseofboththehump-backedcaridandthesquillathemiddleartofthetailisspinous:onlythatinthesquillathepartisflattenedandinthecariditissharp-pointed。Ofallanimalsofthisgenusthecrabistheonlyonedevoidofarump;and,whilethebodyofthecaridandthecrawfishiselongated,thatofthecrabisrotund。

  Inthecrawfishthemalediffersfromthefemale:inthefemalethefirstfootisbifurcate,inthemaleitisundivided;thebelly-finsinthefemalearelargeandoverlappingontheneck,whileinthemaletheyaresmalleranddonotoverlap;and,further,onthelastfeetofthemaletherearespur-likeprojections,largeandsharp,whichprojectionsinthefemalearesmallandsmooth。

  Bothmaleandfemalehavetwoantennaeinfrontoftheeyes,largeandrough,andotherantennaeunderneath,smallandsmooth。Theeyesofallthesecreaturesarehardandbeady,andcanmoveeithertotheinnerortotheouterside。Theeyesofmostcrabshaveasimilarfacilityofmovement,orrather,inthecrabthisfacilityisdevelopedinahigherdegree。Seediagram。

  Thelobsterisallovergrey-coloured,withamottlingofblack。

  Itsunderorhinderfeet,uptothebigfeetorclaws,areeightinnumber;thencomethebigfeet,farlargerandflatteratthetipsthanthesameorgansinthecrawfish;andthesebigfeetorclawsareexceptionalintheirstructure,fortherightclawhastheextremeflatsurfacelongandthin,whiletheleftclawhasthecorrespondingsurfacethickandround。Eachofthetwoclaws,dividedattheendlikeapairofjaws,hasbothbelowandaboveasetofteeth:onlythatintherightclawtheyareallsmallandsaw-shaped,whileintheleftclawthoseattheapexaresaw-shapedandthosewithinaremolar-shaped,theselatterbeing,intheunderpartofthecleftclaw,fourteethclosetogether,andintheupperpartthreeteeth,notclosetogether。Bothrightandleftclawshavetheupperpartmobile,andbringittobearagainstthelowerone,andbotharecurvedlikebandy-legs,beingtherebyadaptedforapprehensionandconstriction。Abovethetwolargeclawscometwoothers,coveredwithhair,alittleunderneaththemouth;andunderneaththesethegill-likeformationsintheregionofthemouth,hairyandnumerous。Theseorganstheanimalkeepsinperpetualmotion;andthetwohairyfeetitbendsanddrawsintowardsitsmouth。Thefeetnearthemoutharefurnishedalsowithdelicateoutgrowingappendages。Likethecrawfish,thelobsterhastwoteeth,ormandibles,andabovetheseteethareitsantennae,long,butshorterandfinerbyfarthanthoseofthecrawfish,andthenfourotherantennaesimilarinshape,butshorterandfinerthantheothers。Overtheseantennaecometheeyes,smallandshort,notlargeliketheeyesofthecrawfish。Overtheeyesisapeakyroughprojectionlikeaforehead,largerthanthesamepartinthecrawfish;

  infact,thefrontalpartismorepointedandthethoraxismuchbroaderinthelobsterthaninthecrawfish,andthebodyingeneralissmootherandmorefullofflesh。Oftheeightfeet,fourarebifurcateattheextremities,andfourareundivided。Theregionoftheso-calledneckisoutwardlydividedintofivedivisions,andsixthlycomestheflattenedportionattheend,andthisportionhasfiveflaps,ortail-fins;andtheinnerorunderparts,intowhichthefemaledropsherspawn,arefourinnumberandhairy,andoneachoftheaforesaidpartsisaspineturnedoutwards,shortandstraight。

  Thebodyingeneralandtheregionofthethoraxinparticulararesmooth,notroughasinthecrawfish;butonthelargeclawstheouterportionhaslargerspines。Thereisnoapparentdifferencebetweenthemaleandfemale,fortheybothhaveoneclaw,whicheveritmaybe,largerthantheother,andneithermalenorfemaleiseverfoundwithbothclawsofthesamesize。

  Allcrustaceanstakeinwaterclosebythemouth。Thecrabdischargesit,closingup,asitdoesso,asmallportionofthesame,andthecrawfishdischargesitbywayofthegills;and,bytheway,thegill-shapedorgansinthecrawfishareverynumerous。

  Thefollowingpropertiesarecommontoallcrustaceans:theyhaveinallcasestwoteeth,ormandiblesforthefrontteethinthecrawfisharetwoinnumber,andinallcasesthereisinthemouthasmallfleshystructureservingforatongue;andthestomachisclosetothemouth,onlythatthecrawfishhasalittleoesophagusinfrontofthestomach,andthereisastraightgutattachedtoit。Thisgut,inthecrawfishanditscongeners,andinthecarids,extendsinastraightlinetothetail,andterminateswheretheanimaldischargestheresiduum,andwherethefemaledepositsherspawn;inthecrabitterminateswheretheflapissituated,andinthecentreoftheflap。Andbytheway,inalltheseanimalsthespawnisdepositedoutside。Further,thefemalehastheplaceforthespawnrunningalongthegut。And,again,alltheseanimalshave,moreorless,anorgantermedthe\'mytis\',or\'poppyjuice\'。

  Wemustnowproceedtoreviewtheirseveraldifferentiae。

  Thecrawfishthen,ashasbeensaid,hastwoteeth,largeandhollow,inwhichiscontainedajuiceresemblingthemytis,andinbetweentheteethisafleshysubstance,shapedlikeatongue。Afterthemouthcomesashortoesophagus,andthenamembranousstomachattachedtotheoesophagus,andattheorificeOfthestomacharethreeteeth,twofacingoneanotherandathirdstandingbyitselfunderneath。Comingoffatabendfromthestomachisagut,simpleandofequalthicknessthroughouttheentirelengthofthebodyuntilitreachestheanalvent。

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