tion of Eye Witneſſes in ſuch a Matter. For my Part I do not at all doubt of this wonderful Generation; Experience confirms this ſtrange Generation.for though I have not beheld it with my own Eyes, yet I have met with many honeſt and reaſonable Men in my Native Country, who have aſſured me, that they have found Pieces of old, rotten, driven Wood in the Sea, upon which there hang Muſcles, in ſome of which they ſaw young Birds, ſome half-formed, others in full Perfection and Shape. Produced from no other Seed, than a viſcous Matter of the Sea adhering to old rotten Wood toſſed up and down in the Seas.From whence I conclude, that thoſe Fowls ſpring from no other Seed, than ſome clammy and viſcous Matter floating in the Sea, precipitated upon Pieces of old rotten Wood, as aforeſaid; of which there is firſt formed a Muſcle, and then a little Worm in the Muſcle Shell; from whence at laſt a Bird proceeds. And although this may ſeem to exceed the ordinary Bounds ſet by Nature in the Procreation of other Birds; yet it is obſerved and confeſſed, that the Sea produces many ſtrange and ſurprizing Things, and even living Animals, which we cannot affirm to have had being from the firſt Creation; but that by vertue of the primitive Bleſſing God gave the Sea to produce; it may yet bring forth many uncommon and wonderful Things, as for Example, many Sorts of Sea Inſects, viz. Crabs and the like. And thus the Sea or Water in general may with Reaſon be ſtiled Pater & Mater rerum, i.e. the common Parent of Things. Nature ſeems to delight ſometimes in forming out of the Wayy Things: Thus we ſee divers Inſects formed out of the
very
