with
the Earth, or the Sea, it becomes in due Time a perfect Bird. This is the renowned Father Kirkerus's Notion concerning the Generation of theſe Birds. His Notions falſe and abſurd.But if one examines his Reaſoning, it is found altogether incoherent: for it was never known, that Sea Fowls lay their Eggs upon the naked Ice, but commonly upon the Iſlands and Rocks in the Sea, which are ſurrounded and ſometimes covered with Ice; and conſequently when the Ice breaks, and drives away from the Iſlands, the Eggs remain ſtill in the Neſt, without receiving any Hurt. And thus the Dutch found it at Nova Zembla, in the Year 1569; but what they ſaw, was not the right ſort of Wood-Ducks, but what they in Norway call Gield-Ducks;Wood-Ducks do not couple nor lay Eggs for their Breed. for Wood-Ducks never are ſeen to couple, nor lay or hatch their Eggs. Secondly it ſeems no leſs abſurd to maintain, that Eggs, after they are maſh'd in Pieces, and beaten about the Waves, retain as much ſeminal Virtue, as will ſerve to procreate a Bird. From whence I infer, that either the Information, the good Father had got from the Dutch Voyages, was intirely groundleſs; or this pretended Generation goes beyond the Bounds of Nature. As to the firſt Inference, it is not impoſſible that the Authors who relates this Story, may have been impoſed upon by a common though falſe Report of vulgar and ignorant People; as any one may, that takes a thing for granted upon a bare hear-ſay, without the Atteſta-
tion
