:
Aristotle - On The Parts Of Animals
Atec Февраль 16 2008 20:01:06
Книга только для ознакомления
. This explains why stags have
horns, while does have none; why the horns of cows are different
from those of bulls, and, similarly, the horns of ewes from those of
rams. It explains also why the females are often without spurs in
species where the males are provided with them, and accounts for
similar facts relating to all other such parts.
All fishes have teeth of the serrated form, with the single
exception of the fish known as the Scarus. In many of them there are
teeth even on the tongue and on the roof of the mouth. The reason
for this is that, living as they do in the water, they cannot but
allow this fluid to pass into the mouth with the food. The fluid
thus admitted they must necessarily discharge again without delay. For
were they not to do so, but to retain it for a time while
triturating the food, the water would run into their digestive
cavities. Their teeth therefore are all sharp, being adapted only
for cutting, and are numerous and set in many parts, that their
abundance may serve in lieu of any grinding faculty, to mince the food
into small bits. They are also curved, because these are almost the
only weapons which fishes possess.
In all these offices of the teeth the mouth also takes its part; but
besides these functions it is subservient to respiration, in all
such animals as breathe and are cooled by external agency. For nature,
as already said, uses the parts which are common to all animals for
many special purposes, and this of her own accord
: