Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/314

 Vertebres in his Neck, and with them by Consequence can move it upon Occasion; and has as large a Heart as other Creatures of his Size; that a (u) Porcupine shoots out none of his Quills upon those that set upon him; and several other things, which would have prevented several Over-sights that are not much for the Honour of Ancient Diligence. This would have saved Abundance of fabulous Relations that may be found in ancient Naturalists. Their heaping up monstrous Stories without giving distinguishing Marks many times to testifie which they believed, and which not, is an evident Sign, that they were not enough acquainted with these Creatures to make a thorough Judgment what might be relied upon, and what ought to be rejected. For accurate Skill in these things helps a Man to judge as certainly of those Relations which himself never saw, as Political Skill does to judge of Accounts of Matters that belong to civil Life, and a great deal better, by how much Nature goes in an evener Course than