Archimedes Texts

TO satisfie our selves in some measure,

about the account upon which Respira
tion is so necessary to the Animals, that
Nature hath furnish'd with Lungs, we
took (being then unable to procure any
other lively Bird, small enough to be put
into the Receiver) a Lark, one of whose
Wings had been broken by a shot, of a
Man that we had sent to provide us some
Birds for our Experiment; but notwith
standing this hurt, the Lark was very
lively, and did, being put into the Recei
ver, divers times spring up in it to a good
height. The Vessel being hastily, but
carefully clos'd, the Pump was diligently
ply'd, and the Bird for a while appear'd
lively enough; but upon a greater Ex
suction of the Air, she began manifestly
to droop and appear sick, and very soon
after was taken with as violent and irregu
lar Convulsions, as are wont to be ob
serv'd in Poultry, when their heads are
wrung off: For the Bird threw her self
over and over two or three times, and dy
ed with her Breast upward, her Head
downwards, and her Neck awry. And
though upon the appearing of these Con-