In 1739, French inventor Jacque de Vaucanson invented the Digesting Duck.  The creation was the same size as a real duck and designed to appear as if it could digest small kernals of grain.  The duck would eat the food and it would collect in an internal container.  The duck would then produce pre-stored feces from another internal container to give the appearance of digestion.  Vaucanson's hope was a truly digesting automation would be designed.  Image is a picture of the design for the digesting duck. Image by Unknown - [1], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1493624