Species

Species and the Birth of Modern Science 61

The Serpentine-kind, Snake, Viper, Slow-worm, Lizard, Frog, Toa d, might have suf-

cient space for their reception, and for their nourishment, in the Drein or Sink of the

Ark, which was probably three or four foot under the oor for the standings of the

Beasts. As for those lesser Beasts, Rat Mouse, Mole, as likewise for the several species

of Insects, there can be no reason to question, but that these may nd sufcient room

in several parts of the Ark, without having any particular Stalls appointed for them.^52

However, although he does not mention insects spontaneously generating
(Francisco Redi’s experiments against mice and insects spontaneously generating
having had a bite^53 ), he does exclude hybrids, as his predecessors had:

(^51) A probable typographical error for “Strepciseros,” which Gesner (1551–1587, vol. 1, 323) named as a
goat, but Wilkins called a sheep. I am grateful to Glenn Branch for tracking that down.
(^52) Wilkins 1668, 165.
(^53) Farley 1977, 14f.
Beasts Feeding on Hay Beasts Feeding on Fruits, Roots,
and Insects
Carnivorous Beasts
Number.
Name
to Beeves.Proportionthe Stalls Breadth ofNumber.
Name
to sheep. Proportionthe stalls.Breadth of Number. the stalls.Breadth of
Name
to wolves.Proportion
feet feet feet
2 Horse 3202 Hog 42 Lion 410
2 Asse 2122 Baboon 2
20
2 Beare4 10
2 Camel 4202 Ape 22 Tigre 38
2 Elephant8 36 2 Monky
7
2 Pard3 8
7 Bull 7402 Sloth 2 Ounce 26
7 Urus^7402 Porcupine^2 Cat 26
7 Bisons 7402 Hedgehog 2Civet-cat
7 Bonasus 7402 Squirril 2 Ferret
36
7 Buffalo7 40 22 Polecat
7 Sheep 1
30
2Ant-bear 22 Martin
7 Stepciseros^112 Armadilla2 2 Stoat
(^7) Broad-tail 12 Tortoise 22 Weesle
7 Goat 1
30
—— 2 Castor
7 Stone-buck 1 20 2Otter
7 Shamois 12 Dog^26
7 Antilope 12 Wolf 26
7 Elke 7302 Fox
7 Hart4 30 2 Badger^26
7 Buck 3202 Jackall
7 Rein-deer 3202 Caraguya
7 Roe (^236)
2 Rhinocerot 8
2 Camelopard6
2 Hare 2 Sheep. 30
2 Rabbet
2 Marmotto
—— ——
92 514 27 72
Ginny pig
FIGURE 3.3 Bishop Wilkins’ Table of Animals on the Ark.^51