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Now the bones of viviparous animals, of such, that is, as are not
merely externally but also internally viviparous, vary but very little
from each other in point of strength, which in all of them is
considerable. For the Vivipara in their bodily proportions are far
above other animals, and many of them occasionally grow to an enormous
size, as is the case in Libya and in hot and dry countries
generally. But the greater the bulk of an animal, the stronger, the
bigger, and the harder, are the supports which it requires; and
comparing the big animals with each other, this requirement will be
most marked in those that live a life of rapine. Thus it is that the
bones of males are harder than those of females; and the bones of
flesh-eaters, that get their food by fighting, are harder than those
of Herbivora. Of this the Lion is an example; for so hard are its
bones, that, when struck, they give off sparks, as though they were
stones. It may be mentioned also that the Dolphin, in as much as it is
viviparous, is provided with bones and not with fish-spines.
In those sanguineous animals, on the other hand, that are oviparous,
the bones present successive slight variations of character. Thus in
Birds there are bones, but these are not so strong as the bones of the
Vivipara. Then come the Oviparous fishes, where there is no bone,
but merely fish-spine. In the Serpents too the bones have the
character of fish-spine, excepting in the very large species, where
the solid foundation of the body requires to be stronger, in order
that the animal itself may be strong, the same reason prevailing as in
the case of the Vivipara
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