BOOK the Firſt. Of Four-footed BEASTS.

Fig. 1. IS a kind of WILD GOAT bred in the Eaſt-Indies, which is call'd, in Latin, Capricerva; becauſe they partake of the Deer and Goat. The Inhabitants other⯑wiſe call them BEZOAR, from whence the Name of Bezoar ariſes. This Animal is very nimble, ſo that he will skip from Rock to Rock. and is dangerous to the Hunter; for he will defend himſelf, and ſome⯑times kills the Indians that purſue him. The Head of this Creature reſembles that of the He-goat. The Horns are very black; and are bended almoſt to his Back. The Body is covered with an aſh-colour'd Hair, inclining to red, much ſhorter than that of the Goat, and neareſt to the Deer's. The Tail is ſhort, and turns up again: The Legs are pretty thick; and the Feet are cleft, like thoſe of the Goat. Bezoar is a Stone, produced in ſeveral Parts of the Belly of this Goat. It is taken, likewiſe, out of the Bellies of cer⯑tain other Animals in the Eaſt-Indies. It is found in Balls of different ſizes and ſhapes; for ſome are as big [2]as a Wall-nut; others as a Hazel-nut, (this ſort, they ſay, is taken from a kind of Ape, that is found parti⯑cularly in a certain Iſland of America) and ſome as a large Pea. Some are round, others oval, flat, or bunch⯑ed. The Superfices of all the ſorts are ſmooth, poliſh'd, ſhining, of an olive or grey Colour; and is made uſe of in Medicine.

Fig. 3. The SHAMOY, or ROCK-GOAT, is a wild Goat no bigger than the common Kind, which frequents the Rocks and high Hills; as the Alps, Py⯑renees, &c. The Horns of this Animal are odly turn'd, for they riſe upright firſt, and then wind forward like a Hook: It feeds upon the Plants that grows on the Sands, and tops of the Rocks. 'Tis a very ſhy and timorous Creature: It is coated like a Faun, having a ſtreak running all along the Back. There is a great Trade carried on with theſe Shamoy Skins; by which they convey Oil, Wine, and other Liquids, out of the mountainous Countries; and of which they make ſeveral other Uſes: for theſe Shamoy Skins, be⯑ing dreſſed, are converted into Gloves, Breeches, &c. Becauſe they may be waſhed as Linnen is, and likewiſe be dyed into what curious Colour you pleaſe. Some⯑times in the Bladder of theſe Creatures is found a Stone, which is call'd German Bezoar, becauſe the Germans e⯑ſteem this not inferior in Virtue to the Oriental Be⯑zoar. The volatile Salt and Oil, of which theſe Crea⯑tures, both Male and Female, afford abundance; are eſteem'd of very excellent Uſe in Phyſick.

Fig. 4. The SHAGREEN is a Beaſt (as repre⯑ſented by Mr. Pomet) very much like an Horſe or Mule; and is very common in Turkey and Poland, which the Turks and Poles make uſe of to carry their Baggage, as in other parts they do Mules, Horſes, &c. When this Animal is dead, they take the hinder part of his Skin, and hang it in the Air, after having ſtrew⯑ed it, when raw, with Muſtard-Seed. They leave 'em thus expoſed to the Weather ſeveral Days, then take them in and tan 'em; and when they are dreſſed, export them. This Skin is very hard when dry, and ſoft when ſteep'd in Water. It is ſaid, that what makes [4]this Skin ſo hard, is becauſe the Animal ſits down, and reſts very much on his Buttocks. They bring two Sorts of Shagreen from Turkey, viz. the grey, or aſh-colour'd, which is the beſt; and the white, or ſalted Shagreen. The Uſe of this Shagreen is very univerſal for all ſorts of Pocket Utenſils, Watch Caſes, Toys, &c. They may dye theſe Skins what Colour they pleaſe; but the moſt common are black, green, and red. The moſt beautiful and deareſt, is the red Co⯑lour, becauſe of the Vermilion and Carmine with which it is dyed. Shagreen Skin is often counter⯑feited in Work.

Fig. 5. The ANTELOPE is ſhap'd very much like a Deer; and about the ſame bigneſs; of a cheſnut Co⯑lour, and white under the Belly. His Horns are al⯑moſt ſtraight from his Head up, tapering gradually, with Rings like a Screw, till within an Inch and an half of the top. It has fine large black Eyes; a long and ſlender Neck, Feet, and Legs. There are many of theſe Creatures in an Herd; when at the ſame time they have Scouts, who by running give them Notice of an approaching Foe. They are taken by ſhot, &c. being too ſwift for a Greyhound. The Antelope in ſhape and beauty excels moſt of the four-footed Race. This Creature is deſcribed in the Book of Three Hun⯑dred Animals; but the Figure there being very faulty, nothing like the Antelope; and having ſince an Op⯑portunity of a true Draught taken from the Creature itſelf; I hope giving it double will be excuſed.

Fig. 7. The MAN-TIGER is bred in Africa; &c. It is of the bigneſs of a large Ape or Baboon; of a brown Colour on the Back and Sides; the Belly, Neck, and Throat, of a whitiſh Colour; the But⯑tocks and Face of a light blue: It has a bunch of Hair ſtanding up on the top of the Head; and ano⯑ther, reſembling a Beard, hanging under the Chin: The Vent of this Animal is placed very high on the hinder part of its Back. It is a Beaſt that parti⯑cipates much of the ſubtle and miſchievous Na⯑ture of Apes and Baboons; but much more bold and fierce. Some Writers have confidently aſſerted, that ſome of theſe Creatures have had the boldneſs to attack the Chaſtity of Women. Mr. Bradley men⯑tions one ſort of Ape brought from the Eaſt-Indies, that is very vicious; and he knew one that had more than once attempted to force a Servant of the Houſe where he was kept. The Man-Tiger is thought to approach the neareſt the Human Species, both in Form and Senſe, of all the Brute Creation.

Fig. 8. Is a MAN-TIGER brought from Africa; which differs ſomething from the former. It is co⯑pied from the Figure Mr. Bradley exhibits, in the Works of Nature. Fig. 7. is from a Painting by a good Hand, from the Creature itſelf.

[6] Fig. 9. This little Creature is found at Surinam. Merian calls it, a ſort of WOOD DORMOUSE: It carries her young Ones with her, on her Back; five or ſix of which, ſhe brings forth at a time. It is of a yellowiſh brown Colour, but its under part is of a whitiſh Colour. When ſhe goes out to ſeek for Food, her young Ones run about her; which, when they are full, or in danger, or for wearineſs, immediately mount upon their Mother's Back, and twiſt their Tails round the Tail of the old one, who forthwith carries them into her Hole.

BOOK the Second. Of BIRDS.

Fig. 1. THE AVOSETTA, is a Bird com⯑mon at Rome and Venice, and do alſo frequent our Eaſtern Coaſts of Suffolk and Norfolk in Winter time. Its length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail, was fourteen Inches; breadth, when the Wings were expanded, twenty one Inches; its weight nine Ounces: Its Bill was three Inches long, ſlender, black, flat or depreſſed, reflected up⯑wards, which is peculiar to this Bird, ending in a very thin, ſlender, weak point; the Tongue is ſhort, not cloven; the Head of a mean ſize, round like a Ball, and black above the Eyes; the Colour of the whole under Side of the Body was white, and the upper ſide partly white and partly black, or dark brown; its Legs are very long, of a lovely blue Co⯑lour, bare above the Knees, and the Claws black and little; it hath a back Toe, but a very ſmall one. Mr. Albin ſays, he had this Bird from Newgate-Market; it was brought to that Place with other Wild-fowl.

[8] Fig. 2. The BEARD-MANICA, or BEARDED-TITMOUSE, is in length from the tip of the Bill, to the end of the Tail, about ſix Inches and an half; in breadth, when the Wings are extended, ten Inches and a half; in weight nine Drams and a half: The Bill is ſhort, thick, and of a yellowiſh Colour, (in the Hen dusky.) The Head is of a dark aſh Colour; from the Eyes a Tuft of black Feathers hangs down, end⯑ing in a point, repreſenting a picked Beard, from which Mark it has the Name of Beard-manica. The Back, upper part of the Wings, and lower part of the Belly, and Tail, are brown; under the Chin white; the Breaſt, Belly, and Thighs, of a pale yellowiſh white, with a tincture of brown; the Legs and Feet black. This Bird is very ſingular in the care and love which he ſhews to the Hen; when at Rooſt, he covers her all Night with his Wing. The Hen is ſomething ſmal⯑ler than the Cock, and of a more beautiful yel⯑lowiſh brown; the Wings and Legs of the ſame Co⯑lour with thoſe of the Cock: The Hen is without the Beard, and more pale on the Breaſt.—They are found in the Salt-Marſhes in Eſſex, and likewiſe in the Fens in Lincolnſhire.

Fig. 4. The FRIGAT Bird, which the Indians call ſo, becauſe of the ſwiftneſs of its flight; has a Body no bigger than a Pullet's, but its Stomach is ve⯑ry fleſhy: The Males are as black as Ravens. The Neck is pretty long, the Head ſmall, with two great black Eyes, and the Sight more piercing than the Eagle's; The Bill is likewiſe pretty thick, and entire⯑ly black, about ſix or ſeven Inches long; the upper Beak is crook'd like a Hook: The Claws are very ſhort, and divided as the Vulture's. The Wings of this Bird are very large, and not without a provident deſign of Nature, ſince his Wings are ſometimes em⯑ploy'd to carry him above a hundred Leagues from Land. It is with a great deal of Trouble, that this Bird can raiſe himſelf upon the Branches, becauſe of the extraordinary length of his Wings; but when he has once taken his flight, he keeps his Wings ex⯑tended almoſt without any Motion or Fatigue. If ſometimes the weight of the Rain, or the violence of the Winds, force him, he mounts above the Clouds, beyond Sight, in the middle Region of the Air; and when he is at the higheſt, he does not forget where-about he is, but remembers the place where the Do⯑rado, or gold Fiſh, gives chace to the flying Fiſh, and then he throws himſelf down like Lightning; not ſo as to ſtrike upon the Water, for then it would be difficult for him to riſe again; but when he comes within twelve or fourteen Paces, he makes a large turn, and lowering himſelf, as it were inſenſibly, till he comes to skim the Waters where the Chace is given; in paſſing, he takes up the little Fiſh, either with his Bill, or his Talons, and ſometimes both to⯑gether. [10]He has a great red Comb, like that of the Cock, not upon his Head, but under the Throat; and this Comb does not appear but in the old ones; The Females have none; the Feathers are whiter than thoſe of the Males, eſpecially under the Belly. Theſe Birds, for a long time, made a little Iſland their Ha⯑bitation; in like manner, as the Rooks have a Rooke⯑ry, where all of that Species thereabout, come to rooſt at Nights, and build their Neſt in the proper Sea⯑ſon. This little Iſland was called the Iſle of Frigats, and bears the Name to this Day, tho' the Birds have left the Place; for in the Year 1643, and the follow⯑ing Year, ſeveral People chas'd them ſo ſeverely, that they were forc'd to forſake the Iſle. Father du Ter⯑tre, Apoſtolical Miſſionary in the Antillees, mov'd by the large Commendations give of the Oil drawn from theſe Fowls, with the Aſſiſtance of two or three more Perſons, took above one hundred of them in leſs than two hours time. They ſurpriz'd the old ones upon the Branches of the Trees, or in the Neſts; and as they riſe with a great deal of Difficulty to take Wing, it was an eaſy matter to beat them down with long Sticks. The Oil, or Fat of theſe Birds, is a ſovereign Remedy for Sciatica Pains; and for all others proceeding from a cold Cauſe: It is held in great eſteem throughout all the Indies, as a precious Medi⯑cine.

Fig. 5. The BENGAL JAY is ſomething big⯑ger than our Engliſh Jay: The Bill is of an aſh Colour; the top of the Head blue; the Neck and Breaſt an aſh, with a mixture of light brown and red; the Wings are blue, as alſo the under part of the Belly and Thighs; the Back and Rump are of a muddy green Colour; the Tail is of a dark blue next the Body, of a pale or bright blue in the middle, and dark towards the end: Its Legs and Feet are of a yellowiſh brown; and the Claws black.

Fig. 7. The BOHEMIAN JAY, or CHATTER⯑ER, is as big as a Blackbird; being in length, from the point of the Bill to the end of the Tail, nine Inches; breadth, when the Wings are extended, eighteen Inches; its Bill is of a greeniſh Colour; the Eyes of a beautiful red encompaſſed with black; the Head ſomewhat flatiſh, and of a cheſnut Colour, a⯑dorned with a Creſt or Tuft bending backward, of the ſame Colour, the top more faint: The upper part of the Neck, Back, and covert Feathers of the Wings of an amber Colour; the Breaſt, Belly, and Thighs more dilute; the Quill Feathers of the Wings are of a dark aſh, inclining to black, the half of which have their Tips yellow; the Tail blackiſh, ex⯑cept the Tip which is yellow. This Bird is ſaid to be peculiar to Bohemia: It feeds on Fruit, eſpecially Grapes, which it ſeems very greedy of. It is ex⯑ceedingly voracious; flies in Companies, and is eaſily tamed.

Fig. 8. The BANANA Bird from Jamaica, is of the bigneſs of our Engliſh Sterling: The Head, Neck, and upper part of the Breaſt, part of the Back, and the Wings and Tail were black, except ſome white Spots in the upper covert Feathers of the Wing; all the reſt of the Body is of a fine gold yellow. It re⯑ſembles the Sterling in all its Actions, being very miſ⯑chievous. It is a Native of Jamaica, and other of the Caribbee Iſlands. Four or five of theſe Birds, will ſet upon, and kill a large Bird or Fowl; and when dead, each one, according to his place of Maſterſhip, [12]chooſe his part, viz. the Heart, Brains, &c. keepin [...] the part which he makes choice of, till he has ſatiate [...] himſelf. This, ſays Mr. Albin, I have been Eye witneſs too.

Fig. 9. The WARWOVWEN is almoſt as big a [...] an Eagle; the top of his Head and Neck, were o [...] a fleſh Colour, bare of Feathers; the ſides of the Face, Chin, and back part of the Head, of a dar [...] brown Colour; the Bill long, and hooked at the and, of a red or ſaffron Colour, with a broad ſtripe of lead Colour in the middle, round the upper and under Mandible; on the baſe of its Bill, grew two broad flat ſcalloped Caruncles of an orange Colour: The Irides of the Eyes white, circled round with ſcarlet: The Ruff was thick ſet, with ſoft long downy Feathers, of an aſh Colour; the Back and covert Fea⯑thers of the Wings, were of a pale buff Colour; the Quill Feathers black; the Craw was of a fleſh Co⯑lour, and bare of Feathers, hanging down like a Bag on the Breaſt; The Breaſt, Belly, and Thighs were white; the Tail was compoſed of twelve white Fea⯑thers, tipt almoſt half way with black. The Legs and Feet were of a yellowiſh fleſh Colour; the Claws black; its Food was raw Fleſh. This Bird I ſaw at the George Tavern at Charing-Croſs, with the Caſſowares; his Keepers call'd him the King of the Vavows, or King of the Vultures. He was brought by a Dutch Ship from Pallampank in the Eaſt-Indies. It ſeems to be ſomewhat like that Bird which Mr. Willoughby de⯑ſcribes by the Name of Uruba, or the Braſil Vul⯑ture

[13] Fig. 10. The Little HORN-OWl is in weight about ten Ounces; its length from the point of the Bill to the end of the Tail, fourteen Inches; its breadth, when the Wings are extended, three Feet four Inches; its Bill black, and a little above an Inch long; the Tongue fleſhy and a little divided; the Face is encompaſſed with a double row of Feathers, the outer row variegated with ſmall white, black, and red Lines; the inner row, under the Eyes, reddiſh. Its Horns were above an Inch long, of a yellowiſh white, with ſix indented tranſverſe Lines of black; and in ſhape reſembling the Ears of a Cat. The whole Bird was cover'd with a delicate Plume, beautifully varie⯑gated with white, black, red, yellow and brown Co⯑lours. The Legs of this Owl were feather'd down to the Feet, and of a light brown Colour; the Claws black. Theſe Birds are found in mountainous and un⯑frequented Places, not delighting in the lower and plain Countries. That from whence this Figure was copied, was ſhot on Enfield Chace: in the Stomach of it was found Bones and Fur of Mice.

Fig. 11. Is call'd the LITTLE OWL: It was ta⯑ken on the Coaſt of Uſhant by my Brother; it having loſt its way at Sea, lighting on the Maſt of the Ship, was ſo tired that it ſuffer'd itſelf to be taken without any Reſiſtance, and was preſerved and brought home by him, and given to me; and from that Bird this Figure was taken by Mr. Albin. This little Owl was about the bigneſs of a Blackbird; it weighed three Ounces; its length from the tip of the Beak to the end of the Tail, was ſeven Inches and a half; breadth when the Wings were extended, fourteen Inches: Its Bill was like that of other Owls; the Tongue a little divided, as in the reſt of this Tribe; the Ears great, [14]the Eyes leſſer than in other Owls. The Wreath or Circle of Feathers encompaſſing the Face, beyond the Ears leſs and leſs diſcernable; the upper part of the Body was of a dark brown, with a Mixture of red, having tranſverſe white Spots, intermixed with lines and ſmall ſpecks of black; the Feathers about the Ears were more variegated with black and white; the Chin and Belly of a yellowiſh white; the Breaſt mark⯑ed with long dusky Spots, incloſed with a border of white; its Wings were prettily chequer'd with black and white: Its Legs feather'd down to the Claws; the Feet of a dark yellow; the Claws blackiſh: It had two fore Toes, and two back Toes.

Fig. 12. The HOOPOE COCK is in weight about ten Ounces; in length, from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail, twelve Inches; breadth, when the Wings are extended, eighteen Inches; its Bill two Inches and a quarter long, black, ſharp, and ſome⯑thing bending. The ſhape of the Body approacheth to that of a Plover: The Head is adorned with a moſt beautiful Creſt two Inches high, conſiſting of a double row of Feathers, reaching from the Bill to the Nape of the Neck, all along the top of the Head; which it can at pleaſure ſet up and let fall; it is made up of twenty-four Feathers, ſome of which are longer than others; the tips of them are black, under the black they are white, the remaining part under the white being of a cheſnut inclining to yellow; the Neck is of a pale reddiſh yellow; the Breaſt white.

Fig. 14. The FLAMMANT was in length, from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Claws, four Feet ten Inches and a half; in breadth, when the Wings were extended, four Feet; the Legs ſixteen Inches from the Knee to the end of the middle Claw; its Bill five Inches and a quarter long, of a ſingular ſhape; the upper Mandible is flat and broad, crooked and toothed; the lower thicker than the upper; the tip black, in the young Birds of a dark blue. It is two Years before this Bird arrives to its perfect Co⯑lour; at which time it is entirely red, except the prime Feathers of the Wings, which are black when it is at its full bigneſs: its weight is about two Pounds and a half; its Legs are long, and of a red Colour, bare of Feathers a good way above the Knees; the Toes webb'd together; the Claws black. Theſe Birds make their Neſts on Hillocks, in ſhallow Wa⯑ter, on which they ſit with their Legs extended down⯑wards. They breed on the Coaſt of Cuba and the Bahama Iſlands, and frequent the ſalt Water; a Man by concealing himſelf from their ſight, may kill great Numbers of them, for they will not riſe at the Report of a Gun; neither is the ſight of thoſe killed cloſe by them, ſufficient to terrify the reſt, and warn them of [16]the Danger; but they ſtand gazing, and as it were aſtoniſhed, till they are moſt or all of them killed. When they feed (which is always in ſhallow Water) by bending their Neck, they lay the upper part of their Bill next the Ground, their Feet being in conti⯑nual Motion up and down in the Mud; by which they raiſe a ſmall round ſort of Seed or Grain, reſem⯑bling Millet, which they receive into their Bill; and as there is a neceſſity of admitting into their Mouths ſome Mud, Nature has provided the edges of their Bill with fine Teeth like thoſe of a Comb, with which they retain the Food, and reject the Mud that is taken in with it. They are thought by ſome to feed on Fiſh likewiſe. This Figure was taken from the Bird itſelf by Mr. Albin: It was brought from Sir Robert Wal⯑pole's, where it had been kept alive in the Kitchen ſome time.

Fig. 15. The CARASOW COCK is almoſt as big as a Turky; its Bill thick, and hooked at the end, partly aſh and partly yellow; on the Baſe of the upper Mandible is a round Excreſcence of the bigneſs of a Nutmeg, of a yellow Colour; the Eyes black; the Head and Neck covered with Feathers of a deep black like Velvet: On its Head is a Creſt of curled black Feathers with white tips turning up ſpirally as far as the beginning of the Neck, which it can erect or let fall at pleaſure: All the reſt of the Bird is black, excepting the lower part of the Belly about the Vent, which is white, with a Mark of the fame Colour acroſs the Thigh; the Legs and Feet are of a pale ruſty Colour.

Fig. 17. The RED BIRD from Richmond. This Name is impoſed on it, for want of knowing its real Name. It was kept at Richmond Palace, when Her preſent Majeſty was Princeſs of Wales, amongſt her Collection of Rarities of this kind. Mr. Albin drew the Figure from the Bird itſelf, but could not meet with any one to inform him from what Country it was brought, nor to anſwer ſome other Queſtions he want⯑ed to ask concerning it. Excepting in the Colour, it is pretty much like the Caraſow Hen, and about the ſame bigneſs; its Head likewiſe is furniſh'd with a beautiful Creſt, very much reſembling the Creſt of that Bird; and indeed it ſeems to be of the ſame Spe⯑cies with that Fowl: The Diſagreement that is be⯑tween them, may perhaps be only owing to the diffe⯑rent Places they are brought from, or ſuch Difference as is common amongſt tame Fowls. The outer edges all round the Creſt was black; the lower part of the Creſt next the Head, and part of the Neck, was of a lead Colour; all the reſt of the Bird, a fine red, only the Wings and Tail ſomewhat darker than the Body; and the Legs and Feet black.

Fig. 18. The GANSER may be claſſed with thoſe of the Gooſe-kind, the Bill and Feet being like theirs; the top and back part of the Head, Breaſt, Belly, and Thighs were of a pale yellowiſh buff-colour, with a light tincture of reddiſh brown, here and there in Spots, excepting a large Spot of reddiſh brown on the middle of the Breaſt: The Bill was red, flat, and toothed like that of the Gooſe: The fore-part of the Head round the Eyes reddiſh brown, with a ring of the ſame Colour round the upper part of the Neck, [18]joining to the Head: The back part of the Head and Back were of a reddiſh brown Colour: The Tail ſhort and black. It was web-footed, its Legs very long, and bare above Knee, both Legs and Feet of a red Colour. Its Food was the ſame with that of Geeſe, eating Graſs and Corn. The Difference be⯑tween the Cock and Hen could not be diſtinguiſhed, either by the Colours or Shape, but only by the Cock's running to the Hen with open Wings, claſping or embracing her round with them.

Fig. 19. The RED-WING'D STARLING ve⯑ry much reſembles the common Starling in ſhape and ſize. The whole Bird is black, except the upper part of the Wings, which is a bright ſcarlet, under that a yellow: The Legs, Feet and Claws are black. This Bird was ſhot near London; it was thought to be a Cage Bird, which had bot looſe: In its Gizzard was found Grubs, Beetles, and ſmall Maggots. It is a Native of Carolina and Virginia, in which Countries they are very numerous. Mr. Catesby makes mention of its flying in Companies with the Purple-Daws, and deſtroying the Corn wherever they come, being the moſt deſtructive Birds in thoſe Countries. He ſays it makes its Neſt over the Water amongſt Reeds and Sedges, the tops of which they interweave ſo artfully, making an Arch or Covering, under which they hang their Neſt, (after the manner of the Reed Sparrow) and ſo ſecure from wet, that where the Tide flows it is obſerved never to reach them. It is a very active and familiar Bird, and when kept in a Cage will learn to imitate human Speech.

Fig. 21. The GREEN CROWN BIRD is a very ſtately fine Fowl, of the bigneſs of a large Turky. Its Body is cover'd with long Feathers reſembling Hair; and of a dark green Colour, having a purpliſh caſt on the Back and Sides, ſome broad Stripes of red on the Wings tending downwards, the Thighs of a yellow⯑iſh buff-colour; the Legs and Toes long, of a pale yellow Colour; the Claws black. Upon the top of the Head of this Bird, grew certain ſhafts or ſtalks, bearing little round Balls on their tops, like thoſe of an Earl's Coronet, of a yellowiſh Colour: On the fore-part of the Head, a little above the Bill, it has a ſmall red Comb, and two red Marks on each ſide of the Head. The Bill is ſhort, thick, ſtrong, a little bowed; and of a pale yellow Colour. This Bird is found in the Eaſt Indies.

Fig. 22. The LONG-TAIL HUMMING-BIRD is the leaſt of all the Species of this Kind of Birds, of which Naturaliſts reckon nine different ſorts, and the leaſt that we know of found upon our Globe. Its length from the beginning of the Head, or Inſertion of the Bill, to the riſe of the Tail, is two Inches and a half; that is, the Neck one Inch, and the Body an Inch and a half long: the Head ſmall; the Bill a little more than an Inch long, black, round, ſharp and almoſt ſtraight. The Legs and Feet like thoſe of the reſt; the Feathers alſo of the Body and Wings are alike diſpoſed, but differently coloured: It hath a Tail lon⯑ger than any of the reſt, ſomewhat more than three Inches, conſiſting of Feathers, of which that which is nearer to its riſe is ſhorter, the ſecond always longer. The Tail is forked, and the Bird in flying ſpreads it [20]into two large Horns, ſo that the tips of the Horns are an Inch and an half diſtant from each other. The whole Head and Neck of this Bird is of a ſhining ſilken black Colour, inclining to or interchanging with blue, as in the Necks of Mallards; the whole Back and Breaſt are green, ſhining interchangeably with golden and ſea-green, as in the ſecond kind of theſe Birds. The Wings are of a liver-colour; the Tail of of a blackiſh blue, ſhining like poliſhed Steel blued over. There are ſo great a variety of beautiful Co⯑lours, in the Feathers of all the Kinds of theſe Birds; and ſo wonderfully reſplendent, that they cannot be well repreſented by any Painter: The Indians make of theſe Feathers the Repreſentations of Saints, and other things, ſo dextrouſly and artificially, to the Life, that one would think they were drawn with a Pencil in Colours. Theſe Birds are fed and nouriſhed with Honey, Dew, and the Juice of Flowers, which they ſuck out of them with their Bill, or rather very long Tongue, provided and fitted by Nature for that Uſe; ſo that being taken alive, they cannot be kept for want of Food, but die in a ſhort time.

Fig. 24. The AMADAVAD BIRD in bigneſs ſcarce exceeds the Golden-crown'd Wren. Its Bill in ſhape is like a Goldfinch's; for colour red: The upper ſide of the Body is of a dusky Colour, in ſome Birds lighter, in others darker; only the Feathers growing about the Rump are of a ſcarlet or deep orange; the Quill-feathers of the Wings and thoſe of the Tail are black. The Tail itſelf is an Inch and half long, made up of twelve Feathers. In ſome Birds the up⯑per part of the Breaſt is of a ſcarlet red, in others it is wholly black, as is the reſt of the Breaſt and Belly in all. The Colour of the Feathers of theſe Birds vary very much: The Legs and Feet are white; the Claws very long, like thoſe of Larks, but more crook⯑ed. Theſe Amadavad Birds are brought from the Eaſt Indies.

Fig. 25. The CROWN BIRD from Mexico is of the bigneſs of the Thruſh; its Bill of a tawny Fleſh-colour, thick and ſhort, after the manner of the Gros⯑beaks. [22]It has a large Creſt of green Feathers, which it can ſet up or lay down at pleaſure: The Head, Neck, Back, Breaſt, and part of the Belly, green; the lower part of the Belly and Thighs of a dusky brown Colour; the firſt four Quill-feathers of the Wings ſcarlet, the fourth having fine long white Marks in the outer Web; the reſt of the Quill-fea⯑thers purple, as was alſo the Tail; the covert and ſcapular Feathers of the Wings purple, with a Mix⯑ture of green; the Legs and Feet of a bluiſh lead Colour.

Fig. 27. The COCK MACCAW: Its Head, Neck, Breaſt, Belly, and under part of the Tail are a fine ſcarlet, as is alſo ſome of the covert Fea⯑thers of the Wings; the Back, reſt of the Wings, and upper part of the Tail, are of a rich blue: The Beak is of a light aſh Colour, the upper Mandible tipt with black: The Legs and Feet are of a dark aſh Colour.

[24] Fig. 28. The HEN MACCAW from Jamaica, and other Parts of the Weſt Indies: is in length from the tip of its Bill to the end of the Tail, thirty In⯑ches: The Body equals that of a well-fed Capon; The Bill hooked, and in that meaſure that it makes an exact Semicircle, a full Palm long. The top of the Head, the Neck, Back, Wings, and upper ſide of the Tail, of a very pleaſant blue or azure Colour: The Throat, Breaſt, Belly, Thighs, Rump and Tail underneath all of a ſaffron Colour. The Tail was about eighteen Inches long: The Legs very ſhort, thick, and of a dusky or dark Colour; as are alſo the Feet; the Toes long, armed with great, crooked, black Talons. It differs from the Cock, which is of a beautiful ſcarlet and blue Colour. Theſe Maccaws are the largeſt of all the Parrot Kind, and bear a good Price, being commonly ſold for ten Guineas. This Bird ſeems to be the ſame with that Aldrovandus calls the greateſt blue and yellow Maccaw: and like wiſe the Maccaw call'd Ararauna by the Braſilians; deſcribed by Marggravius.

[25] Fig. 29. The yellow LAWREY, or PAROQUEET, is of the bigneſs of a Lark, hath a very hooked Bill, of a grey Colour: Its Legs and Feet are of an aſh Colour: It hath a very long Tail, reaching about ten Inches beyond the ends of the Wings; both the Belly underneath, and alſo the Head, Neck, and Back above, are of a beautiful reddiſh Colour: but the Breaſt and lower Feathers of the Tail are of a pale roſe Colour, which Tail-feathers end in a lovely blue, or Colour mingled of white and green. The Wings are chiefly green, but interwoven with red Feathers, the one half whereof is ſo variegated on each ſide with yel⯑low and roſe Colour, that expoſed to the Sun it re⯑preſents a thouſand varieties of ſhining Colours, and can hardly be expreſſed by a Painter: ſo that this Bird deſerves to be highly prized by great Perſons. Theſe Paroqueets are brought from the Eaſt Indies, &c. and are found chiefly in the midland Countries: They rooſt and build on the higheſt Trees; they fly in Companies, and with great noiſe, as doth the whole Tribe of Parrots: They alſo learn to pro⯑nounce ſome Words, if they be kept tame.

Fig. 30. Is the ſmall GREEN PAROQUEET; the top of the Head and the Throat are red; as is like⯑wiſe part of the Tail; the Pinions of the Wings and Rump bluiſh, all the reſt of the Feathers of this Bird of a deep green: The Bill hooked, and of a pale yellowiſh Colour.

[26] Fig. 31. The GREEN PARROT is on the top and ſides of the Head, and Rump, of a fine yellow, or gold Colour, intermixed with red: The Shoul⯑ders of the Wings a fine ſcarlet; the firſt, ſecond, and third rows of covert Feathers of the Wings, are of a beautiful green; the large Quill-feathers of a deep blue, with white edges: The outer edges of four Feathers in the Tail, the ſame Colour with thoſe on the Shoulders of the Wings.

Fig. 32. The LAWREY is the moſt beautiful Bird of all the Parrot Kind: The top of its Head is of a fine purple; the Wings of a curious green, as is alſo the Thighs: It has a half Circle of bright yellow under the Throat: The Neck, Back, Belly and Tail, are of a lovely ſcarlet: The Legs of a lead Colour; and the tip of the Tail black. The Lawrey is as big as the large common Parrot.

[27] Fig. 33. The BATT, or FLUTTER-MOUSE, is a Creature between a Bird and a Beaſt, of which there are three Kinds that we know of, viz. the common ſort, frequent in England; another ſort about one fourth bigger than the common, with Ears twiſted like Rams Horns, about an Inch and a half in meaſure; and a third kind brought to us from the Weſt Indies, whoſe Body is as large as a Rat, and the Wings being extended, meaſure from point to point above two Feet. In theſe Creatures there is no remarkable difference, but the ſize of their Parts. Theſe Animals partake of the four-footed Kind in the Make of the Head, which agrees very much with thoſe of the Mouſe or Rat kind; the ſhape of the Trunk of their Bodies likewiſe is much the ſame, and are both cover'd with Hair: They alſo bring forth their young ones perfectly formed, like the four-footed kind, and give them ſuck. They par⯑take of the Bird kind in having only two Legs, beſides the Hooks at the pinions of their Wings; they have alſo the Power of flying. The Note or Voice of theſe Animals is between the chirping of Birds, and the cry of four-footed Beaſts. Theſe Creatures have not long Tails, like Animals with four Feet. It is ſaid, the Batt ſleeps all the Winter in Holes of old Houſes and Walls; it very rare⯑ly appears in the Day-time, but flies in the dusk of the Evening only. The Wings of a Batt are won⯑derful ſtrange, conſiſting of one entire Skin, webb'd together ſomewhat like the Feet of Water-Fowl. The Claws or Hooks on the tops of the Wings, this Creature makes uſe of to hang by to any thing it is minded; whilſt it is either feeding, ſleeping, &c. It feeds on Bacon, Cheeſe, &c. The Deſcription of this Creature would more properly have come in between the Beaſts and Birds; but being omitted there, I choſe to place it here rather than leave it out.

BOOK the Third. Of FISHES.

Fig. 2. The CROKER is uſually about four⯑teen Inches in length, of the ſize of a large Mack⯑rel, but thicker: In deeper Waters, as in the great Bay of Cheſapeak they are ſometimes taken three Feet in length: The Back and upper part of the Head of this Fiſh are of a brown Colour; the Sides and Belly of a light Colour, tinctured with red; the Tail entirely red: It has ſix Fins, two on the Back, two on the Belly, and one on each ſide below the Gills; the Fins are of a light Colour, ſtriped with a faint red: The Iris of its Eyes are of a fine gold Colour; the Mouth large, furniſh'd with very ſmall ſharp Teeth. Theſe Fiſh are found in moſt of the Rivers of Virginia. They are accounted tolerable good Meat.

[30] Fig. 3. The BONE FISH is on the upper part of the Head, Back, and Tail, of a dusky blue Co⯑lour; the Belly and Sides of a light aſh Colour; the Eyes encircled with white; the Tail forked: It has four Fins; a long ſpiny one on the Back, one on the Belly, and one on each ſide under the Gills, near the upper part of the Belly. There are plenty of theſe Fiſh on the Coaſts of the Bahama Iſlands.

Fig. 5. The BLACK-TAIL FISH is common⯑ly from ſix to ten Inches in length, and proportio⯑nably thick: The Back, Fins, and upper part of the Head, are of a dusky Colour, inclining to black; the Tail black, with a broad Border of yellow round it, and forked: The Sides are of a bluiſh aſh Colour; with five Lines of bright yellow ex⯑tending from the Head to near the Tail; the Eyes encircled with white; the Mouth large: The Head and Body in ſhape are pretty much like the Bone-Fiſh: It is furniſh'd with Teeth like thoſe of a Pearch.

[32] Fig. 6. The SQUIRREL FISH is generally about twelve Inches in length, from the tip of the Snout to the end of the Tail; though ſome of them grow to four times that bigneſs: The whole Fiſh, excepting the firſt Fin on the Back, and the Sides which have a ſhade of white, is of a beautiful ſcar⯑let Colour; the Tail forked; the Eyes large, and the Mouth ſmall: It has ſix Fins, of a ſingular form; the firſt on the Back is ſtrengthned with many large ſharp-pointed Bones, ſhap'd like Daggers; be⯑hind which ſhoots forth a long pliant ſharp-pointed Fin, in ſhape exactly like one Fork of the Tail; the reſt as expreſs'd in the Figure, which is an exact Draught. This Fiſh is a well-taſted good eating Fiſh.

[33] Fig. 7. The SKIP-JACK, ſo called in Carolina, from its frequent skipping out of the Water; but in Virginia it is called Green Fiſh, becauſe when juſt taken, the Back and upper part of the Sides appear of a fine reſplendent green Colour. This Fiſh is about twelve Inches in length; has a large wide Mouth, both Jaws armed with a ſingle row of ſharp Teeth; a bright Eye, encircled with yellow. It has five Fins, and a forked Tail. Its Scales are very ſmall, and the Fiſh when alive is exceeding beautiful. It is a Fiſh of no diſagreeable Taſte, but accounted tolerable good Meat.

Fig. 8. The GREEN EEL is of the bigneſs of a large common Eel, and like it in ſhape. The whole Body is of a deep green, finely ſpotted with black. One kind of this Fiſh is of a light grey Co⯑lour ſprinkled with innumerable black Spots; per⯑haps of different Sex only: The Inhabitants of the Bahama Iſlands will eat only the green ſort, reject⯑ing thoſe which are black, as thinking them poiſon⯑ous. It is cuſtomary for theſe Fiſh, as they are lurk⯑ing among the hollow Rocks and Corals, to bite Peoples Legs that are expoſed to them, though their bite is of no worſe conſequence than fetching Blood.

[34] Fig. 9. The FRESH-WATER PEARCH is uſually ſmall, ſeldom found as big as a Man's Hand: the Back of a dark brown dusky Colour; the Sides of a fine blue, extended from the Head to the Tail, but more fainter towards the Tail; the Belly of a lovely golden yellow; and the Tail of a dusky yellowiſh Colour: It has five Fins, that on the Back and thoſe under the Belly of a bright yellow, thoſe on the Sides under the Gills white: The Eye is en⯑circled with a golden yellow; acroſs the Gills, which are of the ſame blue Colour as the Sides, are divers Lines of black pointing towards the Head; and juſt above the Fin on the ſide, near to the Gills, is a very remarkable beautiful red Spot, and joining to that a black one. Of theſe Fiſh there are plenty both in Carolina and Virginia: They are chiefly found in Mill-Ponds, and other ſtanding freſh Wa⯑ters; and called by ſome Ground-Pearch, from their burrowing into, and covering themſelves in the Mud or Sand.

Fig. 11. The LANE-SNAPPER is in length about nine or ten Inches; the whole Body is of a red Colour, darkeſt on the Back; with Lines, and Daſhes of bright yellow all over the Body and Head: The Fins yellow, and the Tail red and forked. The Eye is large encircled with red.

Fig. 12. The SEA-HAWK is a ſlender Fiſh about fourteen Inches long; of a dark brown Co⯑lour on the upper part, the Sides and Belly light. The Fins and Tail are of a reddiſh brown; the Eye is encircled with the ſame Colour. The Mouth is very large for the ſize of the Fiſh, and well furniſhed with ſmall ſharp irregular Teeth; the Tail is forked. Theſe Fiſh are ſometimes taken on the Coaſt of Carolina, but very rare.

[36] Fig. 13. The Bahama UNICORN-FISH is ſometimes found three Feet in length: The Body is of a very odd ſingular Form, thick in the middle, and tapering at both ends; the Head reſembles that of a Hog's: It has a very ſmall Mouth, with ſix Teeth only; two in the upper and four in the un⯑der Jaw: The upper part of the Head, Back and Tail, of a dark olive Colour; the Belly white; the Fins are of a pale red. The Body and Head of this Fiſh was marked all over very oddly with Lines re⯑ſembling Worms and Maggots; of a beautiful sky⯑blue Colour: The Eye is large, encircled firſt with yellow, then with olive, then with yellow again, and laſtly the whole circumveſted with blue of the ſame Colour with the marks on the Body: beſides thoſe blue marks, the Body is ſprinkled thinly over with black round Spots, like Patches: It has a ta⯑pering ſharp-pointed Fin or Horn, growing out of the top of the Back, a little behind the Eyes; which it can raiſe and point either backward or for⯑ward at its pleaſure, and when laid along reaches to the Fin on the Back: This Bone is very brittle, and eaſily broke, by which one would not think it ſo defenſive a Weapon as otherwiſe Nature ſeems to have deſign'd it for. Theſe Fiſh are not eat, being thought poifonous: They moſt frequent thoſe Seas amongſt the Bahama Iſlands, where the Corals are moſt plentiful. Its Guts were full of ſmall Shells and other coralline Subſtances, moſt of which was ground very ſmall; which by the ſtrength of its Jaws Nature has enabled it to perform.

[37] Fig. 14. The BLUE FISH is uſually about a Foot in length; though ſometimes they are found as large again: The Head is large; of an uncom⯑mon Structure, as the Figure repreſents, ſomewhat like the Whale's, which produces the Sperma Ceti: The Mouth ſmall; the Eyes encircled with red; the Tail forked and ſtrip'd with black Lines; the whole Fiſh of a ſine blue Colour. They are fre⯑quently taken among the Bahama Iſlands; and in moſt of the Seas between the Tropicks.

[38] Fig. 15. The Old PUDDING WIFE FISH is about a Foot in length; ſometimes they are found ſixteen Inches long: The Body of this Fiſh was of a dark olive Colour on the Back, the Belly and Sides lighter; cover'd with large Scales, hav⯑ing the upper edge of every Scale blue. It has a long yellow Fin on the Back, edged with a nar⯑row border of blue, like a Ribbon, another Fin on the Belly, near the Tail, of the ſame Colour, edg⯑ed in like manner: It has likewiſe a long Fin, ſhooting out from the upper part of the Belly, near the Gills, with the ſame Line of blue extending from the Baſis to the Point. It has a broad beautiful Border that extends from the Fin on one ſide, quite un⯑der the Belly to the Fin on the other ſide, repreſenting a Girt; with five Lines of blue and yellow alter⯑nately. The Eye is encircled with a lovely red, like Fire, from whence ſhoot forth ſeven bright blue Rays; which gives it the beautiful appearance of a reſplendent Star. The Mouth of this Fiſh is not large; but its Jaws are armed with ſtrong ſharp Teeth; the upper Mandible is looſe, and can be contracted, or drawn in upon occaſion under the adjoining bony part of the Head, in like manner as in the Hog-Fiſh: The Tail is of a dark brown with a broad Border of yellow, inclining to red.

[39] Fig. 16. The HOG-FISH is commonly about a Foot in length; yet ſometimes they are found two Feet long: The Head, Tail, Fins, and whole Body of this Fiſh are of a yellowiſh red Colour; the Belly ſomewhat lighter than the reſt of the Bo⯑dy: The Eyes are encircled with a pale red; the Tail forked. The Head ſomething like that of a Hog's, being ſharp-ſnouted: The end of its upper Jaw is furniſhed with large ſharp Teeth; oppoſite to which in the under Jaw are two of the ſame ſize; the reſt of the Teeth are ſmall, ſharp, and thick-ſet: The upper Jaw is griſtly, and ſo dis⯑joined from the Head, that, like the Pudding-Wife Fiſh, it can either dilate or contract it at plea⯑ſare.

[40] Fig. 17. The GRUNT is in length, from the tip of the Snout, to the end of the Tail, about twelve Inches: The Back of this Fiſh is of a dark brown Colour; the Belly and Sides of a light aſh, inclining to blue; the Fins and Tail of a light brown: The whole Body is covered with large Scales, edged with yellow: The Head is elegantly ſtriped with a bright blue, and a golden yellow Co⯑lour, alternately placed; which makes it appear as if the Head was cover'd with a rich ſtrip'd Sattin. The Mouth of this Fiſh is large, the Eye encir⯑cled with yellow, and the Tail forked.

[41] Fig. 18. The PORK-FISH is commonly about twelve-Inches in length, and about five broad; with a riſing Back: The Eyes of a bright yellow; its Mouth moderately wide, with many very ſmall ſharp Teeth: The Fins on the Back and Belly of a deep yellow, or orange Colour; the Tail of the ſame Colour, and forked; the Fins on the ſides of a pale yellow: The Head, Back, and Sides of a dark blue or lead Colour, the Belly ſomething light⯑er, ſix broad Lines extend from the Head to the Tail, of a bright yellow; it has likewiſe a mark of the ſame Colour between the Head and Back, pointing down a little behind the Eye. It is e⯑ſteemed by the Bahamians a good eating Fiſh.

[42] Fig. 19. The SCHOOLMASTER FISH, (ſo called by Mr. Catesby, but why, I know not) is a ſmall Fiſh about eight Inches in length; tho' ſome⯑times they grow to a Foot. The Head and Body is of a pale red Colour: Its Fins and Tail of a lovely gold Colour. It is remarkable this Fiſh has no Fins on the Shoulders, or Sides adjoining to the Gills, as uſually found in moſt Fiſh; there are indeed ſome few others that want it likewiſe.

Since it is fall'n in my way in the above Deſcrip⯑tion to make mention of Mr. Catesby; I'll take this Opportunity of making Acknowledgment, of the very great Aſſiſtance I have had from His Hiſtory of the Natural Rarities of Carolina, Virginia, &c. to which incomparable Book I am indebted for moſt of my Fiſh; and to which I refer ſuch curious Perſons as deſire a more ample and particular Account of the Animals and Vegetables of thoſe Countries; it con⯑taining the moſt perfect Draught of the Birds, Plants, &c. as well as Fiſh, of any extant.

[43] Fig. 20. The OLD-WIFE FISH (of which there are ſeveral Kinds) is commonly about ten Inches in length, and five in breadth: It has a riſ⯑ing ſharp Back; the Belly flattiſh, three or four Fin⯑gers wide; from whence ſome have call'd it the Tri⯑angular Fiſh: It is cover'd with a hard cruſtacious Skin, of a brown Colour, without Scales, curiouſly mark'd all over with indented. Spots, large on the Sides, and ſmaller about the Head and Tail. It has a very ſmall Mouth, with ſharp Teeth, a large Eye plac'd high on the Head, of a remarkable Structure; two Noſtrils or Vent-holes under the fore-part of the Eye; four Fins of a lighter brown than the Body, as is alſo the end of the Tail; the part of the Tail next the Body dark, long, ſlender, and which the Fiſh can, as it ſeems, draw [...]p to its Body at pleaſure, as it were into a Socket. Theſe kind are ſeen in paſſing the Tropick, where they ſwim in large Shoals; and likewiſe in other Parts of the Indies: They are a white, firm, and wholeſome eating Fiſh. It is taken with a ſmall Hook.

[44] Fig. 21. Is the Male to the Old Wife, and there⯑fore we call it the OLD-HUSBAND FISH. It anſwers to one of thoſe Fiſh Mr. Willughby deſcribes by the Name of Piſcis Triangularis Cornutus. It is of a yellowiſh brown Colour like the Female, but more beautiful, finely mark'd all over the Body with large Marks, repreſenting Stars, Marbling, and other curious Figures. It has two ſharp Horns on the fore-part of its Head, growing from a thick Baſis, about three quarters of an Inch in length, and tho' but ſlender yet very ſtrong, with which it is capa⯑ble of defending itſelf, and like a Bull, give dange⯑rous Wounds to the Sides of its Enemy. His hin⯑der part is likewiſe well guarded with two long ſtrong Bones or Fins, like his Horns, one on each ſide of the Belly, near the Tail; and when cloſely chaſed, he draws up his Tail, and bids. Defiance with theſe Horns to his hungry Purſuer. It is ſaid theſe Fiſh ſwim in Companies, with their Females, for their mutual Defence; and notwithſtanding they fre⯑quent the Ocean, expoſed to the large, the bold, and voracious Kind, yet the Male being ſo well fortify'd by Nature, both with Weapons of Defence and Cou⯑rage to uſe them, few dare attack him. The Fi⯑gures of both Male and Female were taken from the Fiſh themſelves; ſent me by Mrs. Ann Tilly, a young Lady who is fond of ſuch kind of Curioſities.

[45] Fig. 22. The YELLOW FISH is a ſmall beau⯑tiful Fiſh, commonly about nine Inches in length, though ſome are found twelve. The Head and Bo⯑dy is cover'd all over with ſmall Scales of a yellow Colour, the Back ſomewhat darker than the Belly and Sides. It has five Fins, a long prickly one on the Back, two under the Belly, and one on each ſide behind the Gills: The Head is large, the Mouth wide, in the under Jaw a double row of ſmall Teeth; in the upper are three large Teeth, with ſome very ſmall ones within the Roof of the Mouth: It has a brisk lively Eye encircled with red.

Fig. 23. The NEGRO FISH is a ſmall Fiſh, from ſix to ten Inches in length, and in ſhape not unlike a Pearch; the upper part of a dark brown Colour; the under ſomewhat lighter: The Head and Body is ſprinkled thick all over with ſmall bright sky-blue Spots. The Fins are of a reddiſh brown Colour: The Eye is encircled with a gol⯑den yellow: The Mouth wide, with a ſingle row of ſharp Teeth in each Jaw.

[46] Fig. 24. The TANG in the ſhape of its Body is ſomething like the Bream; about ten Inches in length, and about eight wide; though ſome are ta⯑ken twice that bigneſs: The whole Fiſh is of a dark blue Colour: the Mouth of a very ſingular Form, as the Figure expreſſes, without Teeth. It has a large-prickly Fin on the Back, reaching from the Head almoſt to the Tail; two on the Belly, one large like that on the Back, and a long ſlender one towards the Head: The Tail is large, and ſpreads very wide, both ſides ſhooting into ſharp Points; and as it wants Teeth, Nature has ſupplied that De⯑ficiency by arming the Tail on each ſide with a ſtrong ſharp-pointed Bone, which in defence of him⯑ſelf he extends when Danger approaches. This Weapon, with its prickly Fins, ſeem to deter the voracious Kind that prey on others, from attacking him. Yet I have ſeen (ſays Mr. Catesby) a Barra⯑cuda purſue and bite off a third part of him behind; which when he had ſwallowed, he deliberately bit off half the remaining part, and devoured the whole Fiſh at the third Mouthful. The Tang is account⯑ed a good eating Fiſh.

[47] Fig. 25. The ROCK-FISH is uſually found from twelve to eighteen Inches in length; yet they are ſometimes caught two or three Feet in length. The Head, Back, and Fins on the Back and Belly, are of a dusky blue or lead Colour, the Belly light⯑iſh: The Fins behind the Gills are of lead Colour, yellow at the Ends. The Body is ſprinkled all over with red Spots: It has a large Mouth, and a full Eye, of a lovely ſcarlet Colour. Mr. Catesby ſays, this Fiſh for its poiſonous Quality, has the worſt Character of any other among the Bahama Iſlands; but whether they are eatable from any particular Places he knew not; many of their poi⯑ſonous Fiſhes being not ſo when taken in ſome Pla⯑ces; of which the Inhabitants can give a near gueſs, but ſometimes they are miſerably deceived.

[48] Fig. 26. The HIND FISH is commonly about twelve or fourteen Inches in length, though ſome of them are found near twice that bigneſs. The whole Fiſh inſtead of Scales was cover'd with a thick▪ Skin variouſly coloured; viz. the Head of a muddy red, the Back of a dark reddiſh brown, the Side green, and Belly whitiſh with a Tincture of red▪ The whole ſprinkled over thick with red Spots▪ The Fins on the Back, Belly, and Sides of a light brown; the Tail of a dark lead Colour, inclining to blue, ſtriped and border'd with black. It has a large Mouth, with ſmall Teeth; a full Eye, encircled with red and yellow mixed together: The Back o [...] this Fiſh is well guarded with ſtrong ſharp Fins, or Bones, ſet up like ſharp-pointed Stakes. The Hind-Fiſh are plentiful in the ſhallow Seas of the Bahama Iſlands, and are accounted good Meat.

[49] Fig. 27. The SHAD is of a light grey, with ſome of its Scales tinctured with purple. It has a ſmall Mouth, without Teeth: But what is moſt re⯑markable in this Fiſh is, that the fore-part of the Head was of a cartilaginous Subſtance, the back-part ſtrong and bony; which ſeems deſign'd for a Shield to ſecure the defenceleſs part, which he contracts under it when Danger approaches. It is eſteemed a good eating well-taſted Fiſh.

Fig. 28. The SOLDIER is a kind of Craw-Fiſh, found in ſeveral of the American Iſles, parti⯑cularly in the Iſland of St. Dominico in the Weſt In⯑dies, where there are great Numbers. It is about three or four Inches in legnth, and ſo called, becauſe he is clothed and armed with a foreign Shell. Theſe Creatures go down ſometimes to the Sea-Coaſt; but whether it is to waſh, and to caſt their Eggs, as the Land-Crabs do, is not known; but this is certain, that they go to change their Shells, which every one endeavours to find out according to his ſize: and finding what may fit'em, they run themſelves back⯑wards therein, and ſo cloath themſelves anew: and being arm'd like Soldiers with theſe foreign Shells, they march up again to the Woods, and take up their Quarters among hollow Trees, &c. living up⯑on rotten Leaves, Fruit, &c. where increaſing in Bulk, and the Shell becoming too ſtraight for them, they are obliged to go down to the Sea-Coaſts to [50]change their Houſes again. The Curious, who have made Obſervations of what happens during this Ex⯑change, have own'd, they took a great deal of Pleaſure in the ſight; for theſe Creatures ſtop at every Shell they meet with, conſider it diligently, and having met with one they like, immediately quit the old one, and run themſelves ſo ſwiftly backwards in⯑to the other, that one would think they were either afraid of the Injury of the cold Air, or aſham'd to to be ſeen naked; and if two of them meet at the ſame time ſtripp'd, to enter into one and the ſame Shell, they will bite each other, and battle it, till ſuch time as the weaker yields, and quits the Shell to the Conqueror; who having cloath'd himſelf with it, takes three or four turns upon the Shore, and if he finds it does not fit him, quits it again, and has immediate recourſe to his old one, and then ſeeks out for another; and thus they will change five or ſix times, till they meet with one for their Purpoſe. They carry in their Shells about half a Spoonful of clear Water, which is a ſovereign Remedy againſt the Puſtles and Bliſters that the wet which drops from the Manchineel Tree raiſes upon the Skin.

BOOK the Fourth. Of INSECTS.

Fig. 1. IS a curious CATERPILLAR; the Body of an uncommon Struc⯑ture, being exactly four-ſquare; and of a dark green Colour, mark'd with yellow and red: The Edge of every Square was furniſhed with little round Heads or Balls, ſtanding at an equal diſtance, one on the top of each Joint or Partition, all of them full of Hair, and of a fine ſcarlet Colour. Its Feet, and little Claws, were wrapped in a thin tranſparent Skin, as was alſo the covering of the Belly; that as it crawl⯑ed no Feet were ſeen; but by means of this little Skin, the Caterpillar ſticks faſt to any thing like a Snail. It was found crawling on a Leaf of the Bat⯑tattes: on the 22d of July it made itſelf a Web, of an oker Colour; from whence on the 23d of Auguſt, that beautiful FLYING INSECT, Figure 2. was produced.

Fig. 2. The upper part of the Body of this In⯑ſect was black, finely mark'd with a golden yellow; the Head, and part of the Wings before black, vein'd [52]with gold; the outer part of a yellowiſh brown: The under Wings of a lovely roſe Colour; the Legs and under part of the Body were black. Theſe In⯑ſects, and ſome of the following ones, are found in the Indies; deſcribed by Merian.

Fig. 3. Is an INDIAN Inſect of the CHA [...]ER Kind; very common to be met with upon the P [...]e⯑granate Tree; of a heavy and ſluggiſh Nature and therefore eaſily catch'd. It is furniſh'd with a long Tube or Trunk, under its Noſe; which it very dextrouſly fixeth in the ſweet Flowers to ſuck the Honey out, thro' the ſame. When it prepares itſelf for its Transformation, it lies motionleſs for a conſi⯑derable time, till at length the Skin on its Back break⯑ing of its own accord, there comes forth the FLYING INSECT, Figure 4. the Wings of which are tranſpa⯑rent, of a pale roſe Colour, ſtreaked and veined with ſcarlet, and border'd all round with a pale yellow: But what is remarkable, it preſerves the ſame Trunk, or Body, which the foregoing Chafer has, from whence it is produced; leaving its old Skin or Shell, in Situation, Shape and Colour, reſembling the pri⯑mitive Inſect; which Colour was of a deep green. Theſe Flies are very frequently found about Surinam; they are very ſwift in flying, inſomuch that Merian. ſays, ſhe ſpent ſeveral Hours in catching one only. This Fly makes a ſound like an Harp, to be perceived at a diſtance by its Singing; for which reaſon it is cal⯑led Lyricen, and by the Dutch Lierman. From theſe kind of Flies, (as the Indians ſay) are produced the famous Fly called the Lantern-Bearer.

[53] Fig. 5, and 6. Are the Male and Female Moth-Flies, from whence the Silk-Worm is produced, which are hatch'd from an Egg of the bigneſs of a Muſtard-ſeed. The SILK-WORM, Fig. 7. is of a pale cream-co⯑lour inclining to white. During this Form it con⯑ſtantly undergoes four Sickneſſes, each laſting about three Days, wherein it feeds not at all, but grows thicker, ſhorter and clearer, and at each Sickneſs changes its Skin. It after changes from that of a Worm to an Au⯑relia or Chryſalis, Fig. 8. whereunto it is transformed after its ſpinning time; in which State it lies ſhut up in hot Countries for fourteen or fifteen Days, in more tem⯑perate ones eighteen or twenty Days, without any Food known to us: during which time this Inſect leaves two Skins, both that of a Worm when it is changed into an Aurelia, and that of an Aurelia when it becomes a Moth in its Silk-caſe. Its laſt Transformation is from an Aurelia to a Moth, which eats its way out thro' the ſharp end of the Caſe, Fig. 9. by a Hole juſt big enough to creep thro'. This laſt Change into a Moth-Fly is the Perfection of this Inſect. In this State the Male and Fe⯑male couple, and ſoon after die; the Female having firſt laid her Eggs, which are of a pale yellow Colour, but in a few Days change into a dark grey or liver Colour. And, what is wonderful, theſe Eggs are kept ten Months in the Year as a dead thing, taking Life again in their Sea⯑ſon. The firſt Silk-worms that were brought into Europe was in the time of Juſtinian the Emperor, who began his Reign A. D. 526. till then the Europeans were ſo ig⯑norant as to the Knowledge of the Production of Silk, that they imagin'd it grew on the tops of Trees, as Cotton; and was in all thoſe Weſtern Parts for a long time very dear, being weight for weight of equal Va⯑lue with Gold, a Pound of one coſting a Pound of [54]the other. Perſia was the only Place which the Euro⯑peans frequented, for the ſake of their Silk: and it is certain that the Perſians took care, for many hundred Years, to keep their Silk-Manufactures to themſelves, not permitting the Silk-Worms to be carried out of Perſia, or any Perſons to paſs from thence into the Weſt, who were skilled in managing them. Juſtinian looking on it as a great Hardſhip, that the Subjects of his Empire ſhould buy this Manufacture of the Per⯑ſians at ſo dear a Rate, in order to put an end to this Impoſition, ſent two Monks into India, (under⯑ſtanding that there was plenty of Silk in thoſe Parts) to learn there how the ſilken Trade was managed; and on their Return to bring with them (if it was poſſible to be procured) ſome of the Species, whether Vege⯑table or Animal, from which the Silk was produced; that ſo he might ſet up the Manufacture in his own Dominions. Theſe Monks, when they returned, told the Emperor, That the Silk was produced by a living Creature, a Worm, which could not be brought ſo long a Journey alive. But underſtanding from them that its Eggs might be brought; from which the Creatures might be propagated; He ſent them back a ſecond time, to bring him of thoſe Eggs: Who hav⯑ing effected what they went about, brought to Con⯑ſtantinople great Quantities, which they preſented to the Emperor in great State on Horſeback, (accom⯑pany'd by many of his Nobles, Senators and Magiſ⯑trates) enclos'd in a Roll or Horn of Paper, with In⯑ſtructions how to breed, nouriſh, and draw Silk from the ſaid Creatures: which was received with great Applauſe and Admiration; and from thoſe Eggs have been propagated all the Silk-Worms, and their Silk in Europe.

At the Seaſon of the Year for hatching the Silk-Worms [55]Eggs, which, as obſerved, is about the begin⯑ning of May, provide ſome Sheets of fine white Cap-Paper; each of theſe Sheets make into the form of a Dripping-Pan, by turning up the edges of the Paper about an Inch and half on every ſide: in theſe Paper Pans put the Silk-worms Eggs, placing them in a Chamber-Window, where the Sun ſhines powerfully upon them, and ſecuring them from Cats, Birds, &c. there leave them Day and Night to hatch of them⯑ſelves; and when you perceive the Worms begin to come out of their Eggs, give them young Mulberry-Leaves, or for want of them, the Leaves of Lettuce, till they can have Mulberry-Leaves; and then keep them conſtantly to that Diet: After this manner, in theſe Paper Troughs or Pans feed them till their Spin⯑ning-time, taking care to clean them as often as Occa⯑ſion requires; and if you are minded to remove the Worms to other Paper Troughs, that they may lie thinner and cooler, give them a few freſh Leaves, and the Worms will come preſently upon them: Theſe Leaves remove with the Worms; but if they are grown large, take them gently in your Hands, and put them into other Troughs. When the Worms have fed their full time, and are ready to ſpin their Silk, roll up white Paper like a Wafer, theſe pin up againſt the Hangings of a Room, or to Lines tied croſs the Room; in theſe Papers put every ſingle Worm, as you perceive it wants to ſpin, which it will begin to do generally as ſoon as it is put into the Paper. When the Worm has finiſhed its Caſe, and changed into an Aurelia, which is known by hearing it rattle, when it is ſhaken at the Ear. Then proceed to wind off the Silk, never ſuffering the Moth-Fly to eat its way out of the Caſe, not even of thoſe that are deſigned to [56]propagate Seed for the next Year. A Gentleman very curious in his Obſervations and Experiments upon the Silk-Worm, his Method in winding off the Silk is, as ſoon as the Worms have finiſhed their Bottoms, and changed into Aurelias, to put the Bottoms into warm Water, with ſome Spirit of Wine in it, which he ſays facilitates the winding off the Silk very much; the Ends he finds more readily, and winds them on a Card in his Hand, without any Reel or Machine at all: And as the Silk-Bottoms are wound off, he takes the Aurelia of each, and places them in one of thoſe clean Paper-Pans, erect upon the piqued end; and when its time is accompliſhed, to enter upon its laſt Transformation of a Moth-Fly, it will aſſume its new State, as well as if it had continued the whole time in its Silk-Caſe; and this Method is practiſed by divers other Perſons, who wind off the Silk after the ſame manner. When the Silk-Moths are come out of their Caſes, being per⯑fectly transformed, and are put into ſuch Paper Drip⯑ping-Pans, or Troughs, as they are bred in, there they will couple and lay their Eggs: When that is over, the Papers with the Eggs upon them (never attempt to take the Eggs off) are to be put into a Cheſt or Trunk one upon another, among wollen Cloths; and without any other Art or Means, there let them re⯑main till the next Spring. Some Ladies who keep Silk-Worms, beſides the Pleaſure they take in feeding and obſerving theſe wonderful Creatures, make uſe of the Silk-Caſe, which they cut (after the outer Sleave or Down is off) into artificial Flowers to wear in their Heads, which they themſelves paint and colour, to imitate Nature.

Fig. 12. Is a curious Inſect of the BEETLE or CHAFER Kind: Its Back was black, with a yel⯑low mark croſs the middle, in the form of a Half⯑moon: The upper part of the Wings, the Horns, Feelers, and two Joints of the Legs next the Body, were all of a fine crimſon Colour; the ends of its Legs of a pale yellow; the Body under the Wings of a bright yellow. This Inſect turns its Horns back over its Body, the points of which meet and make a kind of Circle. It was produced from the Worm or Maggot, Fig. 13. which was found feeding on the Carduus, or Thiſtle, growing in the Fields of Suri⯑nam.

Fig. 14. The great black BEETLE, or CHA⯑FER, is produc'd from the Worm Fig. 15. called in Dutch the Palmyt-Worm, becauſe it gets its Food in the Palmer Tree. The Worms are generated in the Trunk of this Tree in great abundance, which feed on the Pith of it; they are a little bigger than Mites in Cheeſe, at firſt, but at laſt grow to the bigneſs of the Figure repreſented in the Plate. The Indians lay theſe Worms on the Fire, and when roaſted eat them very greedily, and think them a delicious Food.

[58] Fig. 16. This Inſect was produc'd from a Ca⯑terpillar of a bright red, and white Colour; with a black Spot on the laſt Creaſe or Partition of its Body; the middle of which was remarkable for its little white Skin, ſhining like Cryſtal; which as often as the Inſect fetch'd Breath, did alternately riſe and fall again. On the 26th of Auguſt, one of theſe, according to the uſual Metamorphoſis of Caterpillars, became the Aurelia, Fig. 17. on a Vine-Leaf, pret⯑tily twiſted and folded up; and on the 15th Day of September, that beautiful Autumnal Fly (Fig. 16) came from it, of a green Colour, with ſix white Spots on the upper part of its Body, and two on each ſide toward the Tail. The under Wings were finely painted with a curious sky and red Colour, with a broad Border of pale yellow. This Inſect is furniſh'd with a very long, and remarkable Proboſcis, or Trunk, with which it ſucks the Juice of the Grape, and very dextrouſly faſtens it in each Bunch; which is the Food it moſt delights in, as does the Caterpil⯑lar in the Leaf of the Vine.

[59] Fig. 18. This Worm, or Caterpillar was found crawling on the Root of the white Battattes; a Fruit of the Earth growing naturally about Surinam, which notwithſtanding are not eat: It produces a fine white Flower. By digging in a Garden in the Month of April, ſome of theſe Caterpillars were diſcover'd lying at the Root of a Battattes, wrapp'd up in a narrow Compaſs: One of theſe had juſt put on the form of a beautiful Chaſer; others were leſs changed, but approaching to the ſame. All as yet were manifeſtly ſoft, and whitiſh; but in a few Hours after growing hard, they were all gradually changed into ſuch a kind of painted Chafer as is here repreſented Fig. 19. flying, which was of a deep green, a crimſon, with Stripes of yellow, &c. The Wings of which appear'd in Colour much like unto a beautiful Tulip, variegated with curious Co⯑lours.

[60] Fig. 20. This Inſect, called in Dutch hel War⯑delende Blad, as being a ſort of Locuſt; though Me⯑rian calls it a Glo-worm; is bred from an Egg, which after natural Conjunction the Female lays in that place, in which afterwards the young Creatures to be produced can get their Food at hand; (a provident Inſtinct implanted in the Parents of moſt, if not all Inſects.) Firſt theſe little Creatures become Worms, or Caterpillars; which feeding grow and increaſe; and when come to a complete bigneſs, they ſpin their Webs, and are transformed into Aurelia's: ſome of which want a ſhorter, ſome a longer time to at⯑tain their full vigor: All of which at laſt come out of their Shells, and break forth moiſt, and their Wings very much twiſted; but ſometimes their Wings grow dry, and are expanded in leſs than half an Hour, after they have ſtirr'd and ſhaken them⯑ſelves a little: ſo that they appear in every reſpect perfect as repreſented in the Figure: which being thus chang'd, ſeem ten times larger than the Aure⯑lia's in which they were juſt now ſhut up.

Fig. 22. The COCK-ROCH, or as Merian calls them the Kakkerlacae, are the moſt remarkable of all Infects in America; becauſe they every where do the Inhabitants the greateſt Damage, by deſtroying their Wollen and Linnen, and ſpoiling their Victuals and Drink: All manner of ſweet things are their beloved Food; for which reaſon they are much delighted with the Ananas, or Pine-Apple, which for the richneſs of its Flavour, is juſtly call'd the King of Fruits. Theſe Inſects lay their Eggs up in Heaps, which they wrap all round in a Bag, or Web, after the manner of ſome Spiders: When their little Eggs are hatch'd, and the young ones quite perfect, they break their Egg-ſhells with gnawing; and the little Crea⯑tures run out with prodigious nimbleneſs: and as they are no bigger when firſt hatch'd than Ants, they creep thro' Cracks and Key-holes, into Boxes, Cheſts, &c. with all the eaſe imaginable, where they gnaw and ſpoil all they can come at: till at laſt they grow to the bigneſs of the Figure 23. in the Plate, of a reddiſh brown Colour, mark'd with white: hav⯑ing two very long Horns; ſix hairy Legs, with two ſharp Claws at their ends, like Forks: the Head black, with a reddiſh Circle round the upper part. When the Creature is arrived to this bigneſs, or full Growth; it ſheds or caſts its Skin; which Skin burſting on its Back, comes forth the Cock-roch, Figure 24. which is the Inſect in its perfect State; with Wings ſoſt and tender, at firſt whitiſh, after of a reddiſh Colour: The Head, Horns, legs, &c. both in ſhape and colour the ſame as before the Inſect caſt its Skin. Its Shell [62]or caſt Skin remaining, preſerv'd its primitive Form of an Inſect.

Fig. 25. Is a large SPIDER ſeizing on the Hum⯑ming-Bird. Of theſe kind of Spiders, Merian tells us, ſhe found many on the Guajava Tree, in which they make Neſts, repreſenting a Caterpillar's Web: Their Bodies are cover'd all over with Hair: they are beſides furniſhed with ſharp-pointed Teeth, with which they give dangerous Wounds; infuſing ſome liquid Matter from them at the ſame time. Piſmires are their common Food; in ſcarcity of which they take the young Birds out of their Neſts, and ſuck all the Blood out of their little Bodies. The Hum⯑ming-Bird that this Spider preys on, is thought to be the leaſt of all Birds; the Body, together with the Feathers, is ſcarce equal in bigneſs to a Spaniſh Olive: They are very richly beautified with various Co⯑lours, wonderfully reſplendent, being finer than the very Peacock himſelf,-(ſee Page 19.) It makes its Neſt in the Boughs of Trees, of the bigneſs of an Holland Schilling; and lays very white Eggs, two for the moſt part, of an oval Figure, not bigger than Peaſe. Theſe Birds fly very ſwiftly, and ſuck Ho⯑ney from the ſweet Flowers with their Wings ex⯑panded; that they hang in the Air as it were mo⯑tionleſs. In flying this little Bird makes a Noiſe like a Hornet, or Bee; hence it took its Name in Engliſh, of Humming-Bird. Merian ſays, ſhe was told theſe Birds are the Food of the Prieſts of Surinam, who are forbid to eat any other Meat. Thoſe kind of large Spiders, (Fig. 25.) ſhed their Coats now and then, juſt as Caterpillars do, but are not obſerv'd to change into the flying Kind.

[63] Fig. 26. This ſmall Spider was of a ſcarlet Colour: It was found in a Wood at the beginning of June. They are likewiſe found in Gardens on the Bodies of Trees; but are ſomething ſmaller than thoſe found in the Woods. Theſe Spiders are accounted venom⯑ous; and are the only Species of the Spider Kind that are accounted ſo, excepting the Tarantula; Spiders being more frightful than prejudicial to Mankind: This Spider, and all the reſt deſcrib'd in this Book, are drawn from the Life, and are of the natural big⯑neſs of the Spiders themſelves.

Fig. 27. Is a Spider very remarkable for its Legs and Feelers; each Joint of the former appears as if it were plac'd in a Socket; the latter were globular and hairy; and on the outer ſide of each, there was a bright knob of white, incircled with yellow, which made it look as if a little Stone had been ſet therein. It had eight Eyes, ſtanding as they are placed over the Spider in the Plate. This is a Male Spider, and was taken in a Houſe in the Month of April: Its Colour was black where the Eyes ſtood; the other part adjoining to the Belly was of a reddiſh cheſnut; the upper ſide of the Belly of a yellowiſh dark aſh Colour; and the Legs of a reddiſh Colour.

Fig. 28. Is one of the Six-ey'd Spiders: It was ta⯑ken in a Wood in the Month of April. It was of a dark Colour, with a broad Streak of light hair Co⯑lour in the middle of its Back; and a mark of the ſame light Colour, in the form of a Diamond, on the upper part of its Belly: The Legs were finely ſpot⯑ted. One of theſe Spiders was taken at the begin⯑ning of June, with its Egg-bag under its Belly.

[64] Fig. 29. The ſmall Long-legg'd Spider was ſo fine⯑ly mark'd, that it is impoſſible to deſcribe it, either in Words or Colours; there being ſo fine a Mixture of green, red, and black interchangeably put together in pretty Shapes; the Legs were alſo curiouſly mark'd in the ſame manner: The Eyes were ſo ſmall as not to be diſcerned. It was taken on the Body-of a Tree in Cane-Wood, about the middle of April.

Fig. 30. Is one of the Houſe-Spiders: It had eight Eyes. Its Legs were finely ſpotted with black, and from each Joint grew certain Hairs or Briſtles: Its Feelers were long and ſlender. The thick Web of this, and all the Houſe-Spiders, may be made uſe of, in the Cure of all Intermittent Fevers.

Fig. 31. Is one of the Jumping-Spiders: It had eight Eyes placed in a circular form, as over the Head of the Spider in the Plate; and it is obſervable that all the Spiders that have their Eyes ſtanding in that form, catch their Prey by jumping on it, like a Cat at a Mouſe. It is a Creature extreamly nimble in moving any way it pleaſes: 'twas taken in a Garden. If you look on it with a Microſcope, it appears one of the moſt beautiful Spiders, that can poſſibly be ſeen; there is ſo great a Variety of Marbling, in pretty Figures of ſeveral Colours, viz. black, cheſnut, red. diſh, and white mix'd all over the Back, Belly, Legs and Feelers, as not to be expreſſed. It ſeems to the naked Eye to be a greyiſh ſpeckled Spider, being all over rough and hairy. The late ingenious Dr. Hooke, in his Micrography, gives the following diverting Ac⯑count of this particular Spider; as obſerv'd by the moſt accompliſh'd Mr. Evelyn, in his Travels in Italy. ‘[65]Of all the ſorts of Inſects, ſays he, there is none has afforded me more Diverſion than the ſmall grey Jumping-Spider, prettily beſpeck'd with black Spots all over the Body, which the Microſcope diſ⯑covers to be a kind of a Feathers like thoſe on But⯑terflies Wings, or the Body of the white Moth. It is very nimble by Fits, ſometimes running, and ſometimes leaping, like a Graſhopper, then ſtand⯑ing ſtill, and ſetting itſelf on its hinder Legs, will very nimbly turn its Body, and look round it ſelf every way. Such, ſays Mr. Evelin, I did frequent⯑ly obſerve at Rome, which eſpying a Fly at three or four Yards diſtance, upon the Balcony where I ſtood, would not make directly to her, but crawl under the Rail, till being arriv'd right under her, it would ſteal up, ſeldom miſſing its Aim: but if it chanced to want any thing of being perfectly oppoſite, would, at firſt Peep, immediately ſlide down again, till taking better notice, it would come the next time exactly upon the Fly's Back: but, if this happen'd not to be within a competent Leap, then would this Inſect move ſo ſoftly, as the very Shadow of the Dial ſeem'd not to be more imperceptible, unleſs the Fly mov'd; and then wou'd the Spider move alſo in the ſame pro⯑portion, keeping that juſt Time with her Motion, as if the ſame Soul had animated both thoſe little Bodies; and whether it were forwards, backwards, or to either ſide, without at all turning her Body, like a well-managed Horſe: But if the capricious Fly took wing, and pitch'd upon another Place behind our Huntreſs, then would the Spider whirle its Body ſo nimbly about, as nothing could be ima⯑gin'd more ſwift; by which means, ſhe always kept [66]the Head towards her Prey, tho' to appearance as immovable, as if it had been a Nail driven into the Wood, till by that indiſcernible progreſs, being ar⯑riv'd within the Sphere of her reach, ſhe made a fatal Leap (ſwift as Lightning) upon the Fly, catch⯑ing him in the Pole, where ſhe never quitted hold till her Belly was full, and then carried the Re⯑mainder home. I have beheld them inſtructing their young ones how to hunt, which they would ſometimes diſcipline for not well obſerving; but when any of the old ones did miſs a Leap, they would run out of the Field, and hide themſelves in their Crannies, as aſham'd, and not be ſeen abroad for four or five Hours after: for ſo long have I watched the Nature of of this ſtrange Inſect, the Contemplation of whoſe ſo wonderful Sagacity and Addreſs has amaz'd me; nor do I find in any Chaſe whatſoever, more Cunning and Stratagem obſerv'd. I have found ſome of theſe Spiders in my Gar⯑den, when the Weather towards the Spring is very hot, but they are nothing ſo eager of Hunting as they are in Italy.’

The Spider Fig. 32. was beautifully ſtreaked, and ſpeckled with black all over its Body and Legs. It had eight Eyes, ſtanding as they are expreſſed over the Spider in the Plate: At the End of its Tail there were little ſhort things like Feathers ſtanding up, which it opened and ſhut like a Fan at pleaſure. It was taken in a Chamber-Window, about the middle of July.

Fig. 33. Was taken cloſed up in a Leaf, near to a Web it had made. It had eight Eyes: The Back and Legs of this Spider looked tranſparent, like clear Horn.

[67]The Spider Fig. 34. was curiouſly and regularly mark'd with Lines and Spots of white; the Legs were yellowiſh and very hairy, and ſpotted with dark brown; the Feelers were alſo ſpotted. It had ſix Eyes placed as they are expreſſed in the Plate. It was found in a Garden, at the latter End of July.

The Spider Fig. 35. was of a Hair-colour, mark'd with a Spot and broad Line of yellow: The upper ſide of the Belly had a Mark in the ſhape of a Croſs, of a yellow Colour: The Legs were of a light Hair⯑colour ſpotted with black, having Briſtles of the ſame Colour on the Joints. It had ſix Eyes ſtanding as they are plac'd in the Plate. It was found in a Web in Biſhops-Wood, at the Beginning of September.

Fig. 36. The Carter, or Long-legg'd Spider, for two Particularities has very few Creatures like it; the firſt, which is diſcoverable only by the Microſcope, is the curious Contrivance of his Eyes, of which he has only two, and thoſe placed upon the top of a ſmall Pillar or Hillock, riſing out of the middle of the top of its Back, or rather the Crown of its Head; for they were fixed on the very top of this Pillar, placed back to back, with the tranſparent Parts, or Pupils, look⯑ing towards either ſide, but ſomewhat more forward than backwards. Theſe Eyes, to appearance, ſeem'd to be of the very ſame Structure with that of larger two-ey'd Creatures, ſeeming to have a very ſmooth and very protuberant Cornea, and in the midſt of it to have a very black Puple, incompaſſed about with a kind of grey Iris. Whether it were able to move theſe Eyes to and fro, I have not obſerv'd; but 'tis not very likely he ſhould, the Pillar or Neck ſeeming [68]to be cover'd and ſtiffen'd with a cruſty Shell; but Nature, in all probability, has ſupply'd that Defect, by making the Cornea ſo very protuberant, and ſetting it ſo clear above the ſhadowing or obſtructing of its Proſpect by the Body, that 'tis likely each Eye may perceive, though not ſee diſtinctly, almoſt an Hemi⯑ſphere; whence having ſo ſmall and round a Body, placed upon ſuch long Legs, it is quickly able ſo to wind, and turn it, as to ſee any thing diſtinct. This Creature, as do all other Spiders, differs very much from moſt Inſects in the Figure of its Eyes; for the beſt Microſcope does not diſcover its Eyes to be any ways knobb'd or pearl'd, like thoſe of other Infects. The ſecond Peculiarity which is obvious to the Eye, is alſo very remarkable, and that is the prodigious length of its Legs, in proportion to its ſmall round Body, and which are jointed, juſt like thoſe of a Crab, but every of the Parts are ſpun out prodigiouſly lon⯑ger in proportion; each of theſe Legs are terminated in a ſmall Caſe or Shell, ſhap'd almoſt like that of a Muſcle-ſhell, faſten'd to the Body in ſo ad⯑mirable a manner, as does not a little manifeſt the Wiſdom of Nature in the Contrivance; for theſe long Leavers (as I may ſo call them) of the Legs, having not the advantage of a long end on the other ſide of the Hypomochlion, or Centers, on which part of the Legs move, muſt neceſſarily require a vaſt Strength to move them, and keep the Body balanc'd and ſuſ⯑pended, inſomuch, that if we ſhould ſuppoſe a Man's Body ſuſpended by ſuch a Contrivance, an hundred and fifty times the ſtrength of a Man would not keep the Body from falling on the Breaſt. To ſupply there⯑fore each of theſe Legs with its proper ſtrength, Na⯑ture has allow'd to each a large Cheſt or Cell, in [69]which is included a very large and ſtrong Muſcle; and thereby this little Animal is not only able to ſuſ⯑pend its Body upon leſs than theſe eight, but to move it very ſwiftly over the tops of Graſs and Leaves. This Creature ſeems to throw its Body upon the Prey, not unlike a Jumping-Spider. The whole Fa⯑brick, when view'd by the Microſcope, appear'd a very pretty one; and could it have been diſſected, as many Singularities might have been found within it as without; perhaps, for the moſt part, not unlike the Parts of a Crab, which this little Creature does in many things very much reſemble. I omit the De⯑ſcription of the Horns, of the Mouth which ſeem'd like that of a Crabs; the Speckledneſs of his Shell, which proceeded from a kind of Feathers, or Hairs, and the hairineſs of his Legs, his large Thorax and little Belly, and the like, and ſhall only take notice, that the three Parts of the Body, namely the Head, Breaſt and Belly, are in this Creature ſtrangely confus'd, ſo that 'tis difficult to determine which is which, as they are alſo in a Crab; and indeed, this ſeems to be nothing elſe but an Air-Crab, being made more light and nimble, proportionable to the Medium wherein it reſides; and as Air ſeems to have but one thouſandth part of the Body of Water, ſo does this Spider ſeem not to be a thouſandth part of the Bulk of a Crab.

All kinds of Spiders ſeem to be Creatures of Prey, and to feed on other ſmall Infects; but their ways of catching them are very different: The Shepherd Spi⯑der by running on his Prey; the Jumping Spider by leaping on it, other ſorts weave Nets, or Cobwebs, whereby they inſnare them; Nature having both fit⯑ted them with Materials and Tools, and taught them [70]how to work and weave their Nets, and lie perdue, and to watch diligently to run on a Fly as ſoon as en⯑tangled.

The Foot of a Spider is of an admirable and won⯑derful Mechaniſm, whereby he is able to ſpin, weave, and climb, or run on his curious tranſparent Clue. Mr. Albin, in his Natural Hiſtory of Spiders, juſt pub⯑liſhed, has collected near Two Hundred different ſorts of theſe Infects. Their Thread or Web ſeems to be ſpun out of ſome viſcous kind of Excrement, lying in their Belly; which, tho' ſoft when drawn out, is preſently, by reaſon of its ſmallneſs, harden'd and dried by the ambient Air.

Of the TARANTULA.

Fig. 37. IS the TARANTULA from Baglivi; Fig. 38. from the Natural Spider in Sir Hans Sloan's Collection. This Infect is a Spider of Apulia in Italy, of the eight-ey'd Kind, and ſpins Webs: It has eight Legs, four on each ſide, and in each Leg three Joints; from the Mouth proceed two Darts, in ſhape juſt like to a Crab's Claws; theſe are ſolid, and very ſharp, ſo that they can eaſily pierce the Skin; and between thoſe and the fore Legs there are two little Horns, or Feelers; which it is obſerv⯑ed to move very briskly when it approaches to its Prey.

During this mournful Scene, all the uſual Medicines apply'd to venomous Bites, and Cordials, are of no ſervice; for, notwithſtanding their repeated uſe, the Patient growing by degrees more melancholy, ſtupid, and ſtrangely timorous, in a ſhort time expires; unleſs Muſick be called to his aſſiſtance, which alone, with⯑out the help of Medicine, performs the Cure. For, at the firſt Sound of the Muſical Inſtrument, altho' the Sick lie, as it were, in an Apoplectick Fit, they begin by degrees to move their Hands and Feet, till at laſt they get up, and fall to dancing with won⯑derful Vigour, at firſt for three or four Hours; then they are put to Bed, refreſhed from their Sweating, for a ſhort time, and repeat the Exerciſe with the [72]ſame Vehemence, perceiving no Wearineſs or Weak⯑neſs from it, but profeſſing they grow ſtronger and nimbler the more they dance.

At this ſport they uſually ſpend twelve Hours a Day, and it continues three or four Days; by which time they are generally freed from all their Symp⯑toms, which do nevertheleſs attack 'em again about the ſame time the next Year; and if they do not take care to prevent this Relapſe by Muſick, they fall into a Jaundice, want of Appetite, univerſal Weakneſs, and ſuch like Diſeaſes; which are every Year increaſ⯑ed, if Dancing be neglected, till at laſt they prove incurable. As Muſick is the common Cure, ſo they who are bitten are pleas'd, ſome with one ſort of it, ſome with another; one is rais'd with a Pipe, ano⯑ther with a Timbrel; one with a Harp, another with a Fiddle; ſo that the Muſicians make ſometimes ſeve⯑ral Eſſays before they can accommodate their Art to the Venom; but this is conſtant and certain, notwith⯑ſtanding this Variety, that they all require the quick⯑eſt and briskeſt Tunes, and are never moved by a ſlow, dull Harmony.

While the Perſons affected are Dancing, they loſe in a manner the uſe of all their Senſes; like ſo many Drunkards, do many ridiculous and fooliſh Tricks; talk and act obſcenely and rudely; take great Plea⯑ſure in playing with Vine-Leaves, with naked Swords, and red Cloths, and the like; and on the other hand can't bear the ſight of any thing black; ſo that if any By-ſtander happen to appear in that Colour, he muſt immediately withdraw, or otherwiſe they Re⯑lapſe into their Symptoms with as much Violence as ever.

[73]It may afford ſome Light towards underſtanding the Nature of this Poiſon, to obſerve that Apulia is the hotteſt Part of all Italy, lying Eaſtward, and hav⯑ing all the Summer long but very little Rain to tem⯑per the Heats; ſo that the Inhabitants, as one of that Country obſerves, do breathe an Air, as it were, out of a fiery Furnace: Hence their Temperament is dry, and aduſt, as appears by their being generally lean, paſſionate, impatient, ready to Action, quick⯑witted, very ſubject to inflammatory Diſtempers, Phrenſies, Melancholy, and the like; upon which account there are more mad People in this, than in all the other Parts of Italy. As to the return of the Symptoms the next Year, that is owing to the ſame exceſſive Heat in thoſe Months, acting again upon the ſmall Remains of the venomous Ferment.

Fig. 39. IS the Large WOOD-ANT; Fig. 40. the ſame Magnified; Fig. 41. the American Ants, as deſcribed by Merian, ſeizing on a Cock⯑roch. This little Animal is that great Pattern of In⯑duſtry and Frugality that Solomon ſends the Sluggard to, that he may learn by the Example of the Ant; who borrows of none, and yet is not in danger to ſtarve; laying up in ſtore, by a notable Diligence, ſufficient Proviſion in due Seaſon againſt a time of Need. Dr. Hooke, in his Micrography, has ſome pret⯑ty Obſervations on this little Creature. The Ant, ſays he, is of a dark brown, or reddiſh Colour, with long Legs, on the hinder of which it would ſtand up, and raiſe its Head as high as it could above the Ground, that it might ſtare the further about it, juſt after the ſame manner as the Hunting-Spider is ob⯑ſerv'd to do: and putting my Finger towards them, [74]they have at firſt all run towards it, till almoſt at it; and then they would ſtand round about it, at a cer⯑tain diſtance, and ſmell, as it were, and conſider whether they ſhould any of them venture any fur⯑ther; till one more bold than the reſt venturing to climb it, all the reſt, if I would have ſuffered them, would have immediately followed: Many ſuch other ſeemingly rational Actions I have obſerv'd in this little Vermin, with much Pleaſure. I have obſerv'd a very large Kind, that inhabited under the Roots of a Tree, from whence they would ſally out in great Parties, and make moſt grievous Havock of the Flowers and Fruits, in the ambient Garden, and re⯑turn back again very expertly, by the ſame Ways and Paths they went. It has a large Head, at the upper end of which were two protuberant Eyes, pear [...]d like thoſe of a Fly, but ſmaller: Out of the Noſe, or foremoſt Part, iſſued two Horns, differing from thoſe of a blue Fly, though indeed they ſeem to be both the ſame kind of Organ, and to ſerve for a kind of Smelling: Beyond theſe were two indented Jaws, which he open'd ſideways, and was able to gape them aſunder very wide; and the ends of them being arm⯑ed with Teeth, which meeting went between each other, it was able to graſp and hold an heavy Body, three or four times the Bulk and Weight of its own Body. It has only ſix Legs, ſhap'd like thoſe of a Fly, which is an Argument that it is a winged In⯑fect; and though I could not perceive any ſign of them in the middle part of its Body, which ſeem'd to conſiſt of three Joints or Pieces; yet 'tis known that there are of them that have long Wings, and fly up and down in the Air. The whole Body was cas'd over with a very ſtrong Armour, and the Bel⯑ly [75]was covered likewiſe with Multitudes of ſmall white ſhining Briſtles; the Legs, Horns, Head, and middle Parts of its Body were beſtuck with Hairs alſo, but ſmaller and darker. In America, as Merian writes, there are very large Ants or Piſmires, which will in one Night ſtrip whole Trees of their Leaves. They have two crooked Teeth, cutting one upon another, like a Pair of Pincers; by means of theſe, they cut the Leaves of the Trees ſo that they fall to the Ground, and the Tree looks bare and naked; juſt as it looks in the Winter in Europe: Thouſands of Ants waiſing for this Booty, catch up the Leaf as it falls on the Earth, to carry to their Homes; not ſo much for their own Food as their young ones, as yet but little Worms. This whole Proceeding ſeems, as if it were, done by a mutual Agreement amongſt themſelves; that one Party ſhould go up in the Tree to cut the Leaves, whilſt the other bears an equal ſhare of the Labour in carrying them to their Cells. Theſe Ants, when they are arriv'd to their full Growth, ſhed their Coats, or Skins, in like manner as do ſome other of the Inſect Kind; and become winged: In this ſtate they lay their Eggs juſt as the Gnats do; which are afterwards hatch'd into little Worms, or Mites; and for the Preſervation of this their Offspring it is, that the provident Ants are ſo eager and vigilant to feed and nouriſh them: So great is their Concern in this particular, as appears by their indefatigable Toil, that they may very juſt⯑ly be eſteem'd as great Patterns of Tenderneſs and Care of their Young, as they are for Induſtry and good Economy. Theſe induſtrious little Creatures make Caverns in the Earth of a great Depth, ſo ar⯑tificially contriv'd, that one would affirm it to be a [76]piece of Man's Ingenuity. Theſe Ants, they ſay, have a perpetual Enmity with the Spiders, and all other Infects of that Country, in the Weſt-Indies, where they are found. When they fally out of their Caverns, which they do once a Year, an innumerable Multitude of them comes forth, which enter Peoples Houſes, range from one Room to another; and kill divers ſmall Creatures they meet with, by ſucking them to Death; that large Spider, Page 62. was de⯑ſtroy'd by this means in a Moment almoſt; it was beſet with ſuch Heaps of 'em, that it cou'd not diſ⯑engage, and free itſelf from Danger; 'tis ſaid, that even Men themſelves muſt fly for it, they make their way ſo in Troops from one Room to another; and having ranſack'd, and as it were ſwept the whole Houſe, they make to the next; till at laſt, they go back again to their Holes.

[79] Fig. 44. Is the ſmall ſilver-colour'd BOOK-WORM, Magnified. As among greater Animals there are many that are ſcaled, both for Ornament and Defence, ſo are there not wanting ſuch alſo among the leſſer Bodies of Inſects, whereof this little Crea⯑ture gives us an Inſtance. It is a ſmall white ſilver⯑ſhining Worm or Moth, found much converſant among Books and Papers; and is ſuppos'd to be that which corrodes and eats Holes through the Leaves and Covers: It appears to the naked Eya, a ſmall glittering Pearl-colour'd Moth, which upon the re⯑moving of Books and Papers in the Summer, is of⯑ten obſerv'd to ſcud, and pack away to ſome lurking Cranney, where it may the better protect itſelf from any appearing Dangers. Its Head appears big and blunt, and its Body tapers from it towards the Tail, ſmaller and ſmaller, being ſhap'd almoſt like a Car⯑rot. The Body is divided into fourteen ſeveral Par⯑titions, being the appearance of ſo many ſeveral Shells, or Shields that cover the whole Body; every of theſe Shells are again covered or tiled over with a multi⯑tude of thin tranſparent Scales, which, from the multiplicity of their reflecting Surfaces, make the whole Animal appear of a perfect Pearl-colour. This Inſect was furniſh'd on either ſide of its Head with a Cluſter of Eyes; and each of theſe Cluſters were beſet with a row of ſmall Briſtles, much like the Ci⯑lia or Hairs on the Eye-lids; and, perhaps, they ſerv'd for the ſame purpoſe. It had two long Horns; curiouſly ring'd or knobb'd, having at each knob ſmall Hairs, or Briſtles, here and there diſpers'd among them: beſides theſe, it had two ſhorter [80]Horns, or Feelers, which were knotted and fring'd, juſt as the former. It had three Tails, in every par⯑ticular reſembling the two longer Horns that grow out of the Head. The Legs of it were ſcal'd and hair'd juſt like the reſt, but are not expreſs'd in this Figure, the Creature being intangled all in Glue, and ſo the Legs of this appear'd not through the Glaſs, which looked perpendicularly upon the Back. The Body is beſet with ſharp-pointed Briſtles, like Spears. Dr. Hooke ſays, This Animal probably ſeeds upon the Paper and Covers of Books, and perforates in them ſeveral ſmall round Holes. Mr. Albin calls it the Cloth Worm, or Moth, and ſays it is the very Creature that eats the woollen Cloth; and that it is produced from a ſmall grey ſpeckled Moth that flies a-nights, and creeps in among woollen Cloths, and there lays her Eggs, which are hatch'd in their Sea⯑ſon by the natural Heat of the Woollen; upon which theſe little Creatures feed, till they change into a fly⯑ing Inſect like their Animal Parent. To prevent the Havock that this little Creature (which is one of the Teeth of Time) is wont to make among woollen Cloths, &c. They ſhould ſometimes be air'd and bruſh'd, before the warm Seaſon comes on for the Eggs to hatch, which will abſolutely deſtroy the Eggs, and preſerve the Garments.

[81] Fig. 45. Is the Crab-like Inſect, or BOOK-SPI⯑DER. Reading one Day in September, I chanced to obſerve a very ſmall Creature creep over the Book I was reading, very ſlowly; having a Microſcope by me, I obſerv'd it to be a Creature of a very unuſual Form, and that not leſs notable, as the Figure re⯑preſents. Its natural bigneſs was about the ſize of a large Mite, or ſomewhat longer; it had ten Legs, eight of which were topt with very ſharp Claws, and were thoſe upon which he walk'd, ſeeming ſhap'd much like thoſe of a Crab, which in many other things alſo this little Creature reſembled; for the two other Claws, which were the foremoſt of all the ten, were exactly form'd in the manner of Crabs or Lobſters Claws; which this little Animal did open and ſhut at pleaſure: It ſeem'd to make uſe of thoſe two Claws both for Feelers and Hold⯑ers; for in its motion it carried theſe aloft extended before, moving them to and fro, juſt as a man blind⯑folded would do his Hands, when he is fearful of running againſt a Wall; and if I put an Hair to it, it would readily take hold of it with theſe Claws, and ſeem to hold it faſt. The whole Body was caſ⯑ed over with Armour-ſhells, as is uſual in all thoſe Kinds of cruſtaceous Creatures, eſpecially about their Bellies, and ſeem'd of three kinds; the Head ſeem'd cover'd with a kind of ſcaly Shell, the Thorax with two ſmooth Shells, or Rings; and the Belly with eight knobb'd ones. I could not certainly find, whe⯑ther it had under theſe laſt Shells any Wings, but I ſuſpect the contrary; for I have not found any wing'd Infect with eight Legs, two of thoſe Legs being [82]always converted into Wings; and, for the moſt part, thoſe that have but ſix, have Wings. This Crea⯑ture, though I could never meet with more than one of them, and ſo could not make ſo many Examina⯑tions of it as otherwiſe I would, I did notwithſtand⯑ing, by reaſon of the great Curioſity that appear'd to me in its ſhape, delineate it, to ſhew that, in all like-lihood, Nature had crowded together into this very minute Infect, as many, and as excellent Contrivan⯑ces, as into the Body of a very large Crab, which exceeds it in Bulk, perhaps, ſome Millions of times: It being a general Rule in Nature's Proceedings, that where ſhe begins to diſplay any Excellency, if the Subject be further ſearch'd into, it will manifeſt, that there is not leſs Curioſity in thoſe Parts which our ſingle Eye cannot reach, than in thoſe which are more obvious. [Hooke's Microgr.]

Fig. 48. Of theſe kind of FROGS, Meriana ſays, ſhe ſaw ſeveral ſwimming in the Water at Surinam. Their Feet was furniſh'd with a little Ball at the end of each Toe, by the ſingular Contrivance of Nature; that being ſo ſupported, they could not only ſwim, but alſo walk over the marſhy and muddy Waters: They are of a brown, and pale green Colour inter⯑mixed together, as if they were water'd with it. Theſe Frogs leave their Spawn on the Banks of the Waters; where ſuch Perſons as are curious to ob⯑ſerve the Change of theſe Creatures, gather it, and lay it in an earthen Veſſel filled with Water, upon a green Turf, at the bottom: The Spawn or Seed ap⯑pears as a blackiſh Point, incloſed in a kind of white Glue; in which it lives, and by degrees increaſes its Motion, till about the eighth Day; after that they have Tails, and the little things begin to ſwim in the Wa⯑ter, [84]but they and ſhapeleſs young Frogs': In a few Days more their Eyes appear, and a little after thier two hind Feet; the two fore Feet likewiſe coming out of the Skin in about eight Days more: After which their Tails being rotted, drop off; and the Cremures become four-footed, and compleat Frogs, often ſeen ſcampering out of the Waters on the Land. But we muſt obſverve, that both the Water, and the Turf that the Spawn is put into, muſt be ſhifted every now and then; and the little Creatures, as ſoon as ever we perceive them to move, ought to be nouriſh'd in the Water with a bit of Bread.

Fig 49. Is a Water Inſect that preys upon young Frogs, which the Inhabitants of Surinam, where it is found, call a WATER SCROPION: It ſeems to be rather to the Beetle kind; in the Month of May it changes to a flying Infect.

Having had occaſsion to make mention of Surinam, in ſome of the Deſcriptions of Infects; It may not be improper to infrom the Reader, that Surinam is a Dutch Settlement in Guiana, upon the Con⯑tient of America. It firſt belonged to the French, who built a Fort there; from them the Engliſh took it; and afterwards the Dutch took it from the Engliſh; in whoſe Hands it now re⯑mains. Madam Meriana, a Gentlewoman of the Dutch National, (if I am rightly inform'd) pub⯑liſh'd a Natural Hiſtory, with curious Figures, of the Inſects, &c. found in and about Surinam, from which Book the Indian Flies contain'd in this Treatiſe are copied.

BOOK the Fifth. Of PLANTS, FRUITS, and FLOWERS.

COFFEE is the Fruit of a Tree which grows in Arabia Fleix, and is brough to us from Mocha. The Flower of this Tree is like the white Jeſfamine Flower, and the Leaf like the Bay-leaf: The Coffee Tree is propagated by Seeds, which ſhou'd be ſown ſoon af⯑ter they are gather'd from the Tree; for if they are kept but a ſhort time out of the Ground, they will not grow; which is the chief Reaſon that this Tree has not been ſpread into more different Countries: for the Seeds will not keep good long enough to be ſent to any diſtant Place: So that in order to culti⯑vate this Plant in any Part of the World, it is abſo⯑lutely neceſſary to have it carried thither growing. But as this Difficulty is now overcome, by the quan⯑tity [86]of theſe Trees there are now growing both in Europe and America; ſo we may expect to be furniſh⯑ed with them from many different Parts, but eſpe⯑cially from the Caribbee Iſlands, where the Trees are found to ſucceed as well as in their native Soil; but whether the Coffee produced in the Weſt-Indies, will prove as good as that brought from Mocha, Time will diſcover. The Berries of this Plant are commonly ripe with us in April. Coffee is of an excellent dry⯑ing Quality; it comforts the Brain, eaſes Pains of the Head, ſuppreſſes Vapours, dries up Crudities in the Stomach; prevents Sleepineſs after eating, and gives Life and Gaiety to the Spritis, &c.

The COCAO Tree, that bears the Chocolate Nut, much reſembles our Heart-Cherry Tree; but at its full Growth ſpreads to a greater breadth in com⯑paſs, and is ſomething loftier: 'Tis well ſupplied with Leaves, that reſemble thoſe of the Orange Tree; but are longer, and more ſharp-pointed: It is always flouriſhing, eſpecially towards the two Solſtices; for as the Leaves only fall off ſucceſſively, and as others grow again; this Tree never appears naked. The Bloſſoms are regular, and like a Roſe, but very ſmall and without Smell: Every Bloſſom is joined to the Tree by a ſlender Stalk, and leaves in falling off long ſtringly Filaments, which are green, from which a yellow pointed Fruit is form'd, of the ſize of our Melons; which adhere to the thick Boughs or Branches, not admitting of any Intermedium, or Stem, as Ap⯑ples do. Each Fruit contains from fifteen to twenty-five little Nuts, or Almonds; they are each of them cover'd with a yellowiſh thin Skin; which being ſeparated, a tender Subſtance appears, which is di⯑vided into ſeveral unequal Particles, that are olly, of good Nouriſhment, and leave a certain ſharpneſs up⯑on the Palate. Theſe Trees grow in all the Spaniſh Weſt Indies, Jamaica, &c. They commonly bear Fruit within ſeven Years ſpace, or leſs, after their firſt Plantation; tho' in the Interim they are ſome⯑times twice or thrice removed, and great Care is ta⯑ken to ſecure them with Shades, that they may not be injured by the over-powerful Heat of the ſcorch⯑ing Sun, of which they are not in danger, when [88]they once become great; for being planted in Ranks and regular Walks, ſhady Plantane Trees, &c. are rang'd with them; and one ſhelters the other, both from the parching Sun and boiſterous Wind. As it is a Tree of ſingular Beauty, having large, broad, ablong green Leaves, which fall back, and hang like ſo ma⯑ny Shields, to preſerve and defend the tender Fruit; ſo is it likewiſe a Tree of great Profit to the Own⯑er, ariſing from its moſt deſirable Fruit, which grows after an admirable manner in Cods; ſtudded, as it were in the very Body of the Tree, from the Earth up⯑wards, as well as the Arms and large Boughs: But the Fruit never grows at the Ends of the ſmall Branches. And herein we may eaſily apprehend, that if Nature had plac'd ſuch bulky Fruit at the ends of the Branches, their great weight muſt neceſſarily break them; and the Fruit would fall before it come to Maturity. The Nuts, they ſay, among the Indians and Spaniards, go for current Money, even in thoſe Countries where Gold and Silver are naturally produc'd; being to them Food and Raiment, Riches and Delight, all at once. It ſeems almoſt unneceſſary to tell the Reader, that the Uſe of theſe Nuts is to make that well-known Liquor call'd Chocolate, every one being acquainted with it.

NUTMEGS are of two ſorts; diſtinguiſhed by Male and Female; the latter is the beſt, and moſt commonly uſed; The Male, which is a long and large Nut, is ſeldom uſed: The Female, which is the rounder and leſſer Nut, is that generally ſold in the Grocers Shops; and the Trees which bear the Female, or common Nutmegs, grow not but in cultivated or improv'd Lands; but the Males, or long Nutmegs, grow in Woods and Foreſts, which makes the Dutch call them Wild Nutmegs. The Tree that produces the common, or beſt ſort of Nutmegs, is as large as a Pear-Tree, with Leaves ſhap'd like thoſe of the Peach, but much ſmaller: The Bloſſom is in the ſhape of a Roſe, of a pleaſant Smell; after the Flower is fallen off, a Fruit appears, as large as a green Wall-nut; the Nutmeg is the Kernel of this Fruit, which is cover'd with two Barks; the firſt is very thick, and pull'd off when the Fruit is ripe; the ſecond is much thin⯑ner and finer, of a reddiſh Colour inclining to yellow: It is ſeparated from the Nutmeg in order to dry, and is what we call Mace. When the Nutmegs are ſepa⯑rated [90]from their Barks, they dry and preſerve them. The Nutmeg-Trees grow plentifully in the great Iſland of Banda, in Aſia, and in ſeveral other Iſlands in the Eaſt Indies, belonging to the Dutch; it being a Commodity which none but themſelves are Maſters of. Theſe Iſles, they ſay, are ſo ſtock'd with Nut⯑meg-Trees, that it is almoſt incredible; and the Cli⯑mate ſo good, that the Trees are always loaden with this rich Fruit; and that they have three Crops a Year, viz. in April, Auguſt, and December. This Tree, according to Mr. Tavernier, is not planted, but grows by means of certain Birds, which ſwallow the Nutmegs whole, and throw them up again, without having digeſted them; and the Nutmeg being then cover'd with a viſcous and gluey Matter, and being caſt upon the Ground, they take Root, and produce a Tree, which grows juſt as if it had been planted after the manner of others.

CLOVES are the Foot-ſtalks of the Flowers of the Clove Tree, pluck'd before they are full blown: When the Fruit begins to appear, their Colour is of a whitiſh green; afterwards they grow red; and at laſt, when ripe, of a dark brown. Theſe Trees grew plentifully in the Molucca Iſlands, till the Dutch, not being able to hinder the Engliſh, and ſome other Na⯑tions from going thither, and bringing away Cloves from thence, thought it adviſable, to make them⯑ſelves entirely Maſters of that Commodity, to pluck up all the Trees, and tranſport them to an Iſland of their own, called Ternate; by which means other Na⯑tions are forced to purchaſe that valuable Merchandiſe from them. There is no other Art uſed with the Cloves after they are pluck'd from the Tree, but to let them dry in the open Fields expos'd to the heat of the Sun, and after that to keep them carefully from the Air. There is alſo deſcrib'd by ſome Au⯑thors, the Royal Clove; ſo called from bearing on its top a ſort of Crown; for which reaſon the King of the Country keeps it in his own Poſſeſſion; and be⯑cauſe there is 2 common fabulous Opinion; that the other Trees bow towards this as their King.

[93]The Black Eaſt-Indian PEPPER, is the Fruit of a climbing Plant we commonly call a Creeper; and grows in ſmall Cluſters, or Bunches, like thoſe of our Currants. The Seeds are ſmall, round, and green at firſt; but the ripe freſh Fruit is about the ſize of a large Currant, and of a red Colour, which in dry⯑ing turns to black. They ſay, the common White Pepper is only the Black ſtripp'd of its outer Skin. This is done by firſt ſteeping it in Sea Water, then drying it, and rubbing it in Sand. There is how⯑ever another kind of Pepper, which is naturally white, but in all other reſpects is like the Black. The En⯑gliſh and Dutch bring from the Eaſt-Indies three ſorts of Black Pepper, which differ not one from the other, but according to the Places where they grow: the fineſt is that of Malabar. The Tree or Buſh that bears the Jamaica Pepper, grows almoſt after the ſame manner as the Barberry Tree, but not ſo lofty; and beſides without Prickles; otherwiſe, both for Stock, Branch and Leaf, it is very much like that Tree. The Grains or Berries are about the ſize of Juniper-Berries, and of an aromatick Taſte, which partaking of that of all the other Spices, it has by the Engliſh been called All-ſpice. This Pepper grows plentifully in many of the Plantations in Jamaica.

[94]GINGER is the Root of a Plant called the ſmall Club Reed: It repreſents in ſhape a ſort of Foot at the end of every Root: Its Leaves are large, long, and of a deep green: It bears a reddiſh Flower, mix'd with a little green; the whole Head of the Flower reſembling a Club; from whence by ſome it is called Ginger with the Club-Flower. There are two kinds of Ginger, the white or mealy, and the hard black; but the firſt is reckon'd by much the beſt. Ginger grows both in the Eaſt and Weſt-Indies, and is very much cultivated in the Iſles of the Antilles; but the greateſt quantities come from the Leeward Iſlands, Barbadoes, Nevis, St. Chriſtophers; and like⯑wiſe from Jamaica, and other Places thereabouts. We have now little out of the Eaſt-Indies, but what is brought thence in a Confection, call'd green Gin⯑ger; which they prepare in India; and is likewiſe made in England and other Parts, by ſteeping the freſh Root two or three Days in warm Water, keeping it in a Balneo all that time; by which means it will grow ſoft and ſwell: They then boil it up, either flit or whole, with refin'd Sugar, to a Syrup.

[95]CURRANTS that are ſold by the Grocers of London, &c. and are well known for their excellent uſe in Puddings, Cakes, &c. are the Fruit of the Vine, and called the Corinth Grape, or vulgarly, the Currant Grape: Of this kind there are two or three different Colours, as red, black, and tawney. The Vine that bears this Fruit is low, furniſh'd with thick Leaves, very much indented, and like all other Vines ſending forth Claſpers at the Joints; by which it faſ⯑tens itſelf to whatever Plant ſtands near it; and the Fruit is produced in Bunches. Theſe Vines grow plentifully in a vaſt ſpacious Plain that is ſituated be⯑hind the Fortreſs of Zant in Greece. This Plain is ſurrounded with Mountains and Hills, and is divid⯑ed into Vineyards, in which are abundance of Cy⯑prus, Olives, and Houſes of Pleaſure, which make together with the Fortreſs and the Mount Diſcoppo, a Proſpect perfectly beautiful. When theſe little Grapes are ripe, which generally happens in Auguſt, the Peo⯑ple of Zant gather and ſtone them, then ſpread them upon the Ground to dry, and when dry'd carry them into the Town, where they are thrown through a Hole into the great Magazine, call'd the Seraglio; and are there preſs'd ſo cloſe together in a Maſs, that they are oblig'd to uſe Iron Inſtruments to pull them out; which done, they put 'em into Casks or Bales of different ſizes; and to make them ſo tight as they are brought to us, they employ Men to tread them with their Feet, for which purpoſe they rub 'em well with Oil beforehand. Currants are brought from ſeveral Places in the Levant; but the ſort we uſe is chiefly brought from the Iſlands near the Mo⯑rea. They ſay, the People of Zant, where theſe Currants grow, believe that the Europeans uſe them to dye Cloths, not knowing that they are for eating. As Currants are the Fruit of the Vine, ſo likewiſe the ſeveral kinds of Raiſins are only ſo many ſorts of Grapes, differing according to the Countries where they are produced. When the Grapes are ripe, they gather the Bunches, and put them to dry in the Sun, turning them from one ſide to the other, by which means they dry equally; and when dry they put 'em [96]up into little Cheſts, &c. for Tranſportation: Tho', as ſome ſay, before they expoſe the Bunches to dry in the Sun, they firſt dip them into a certain Liquor prepared for that purpoſe.

RICE is the Product of a Plant much cultivated in moſt of the Eaſtern Countries; and great quanti⯑ties of it are brought into England, and other Euro⯑pean Countries every Year; where it is in great eſteem for Puddings, &c. it being too tender to be produc'd in theſe northern Countries, without the aſſiſtance of artificial Heat: But from ſome Seeds formerly ſent to South-Carolina, there have been great quantities pro⯑duc'd; and it is found to ſucceed equally as well there, as in its native Soil; which is a very great Improvement to our American Settlements: it being a Seed of ſo great Uſe and Profit, that it is call'd the Manna of the Poor; and throughout ſeveral Coun⯑tries, it is the chief Support of the Inhabitants. This Plant bears its Stalk about three or four Feet high, much thicker and ſtronger than that of Wheat and [98]other Corn: The Leaves are long like the Reed, and fleſhy; the Flowers blow on the top like Barley; but the Seed, which follows, is diſpos'd in Cluſters, each of which is enclos'd in a yellow Husk, ending in a ſpiral Thread, and of an oblong, or rather oval Figure. This Plant grows upon moiſt Soils, where the Ground can be flow'd over with Water after it is come up; ſo that whoever would cultivate it in Eng⯑land for Curioſity, ſhould ſow the Seeds upon a Hot⯑bed; and when the Plants are come up, they ſhould be tranſplanted into Pots fill'd with rich light Earth, and plac'd in Pans of Water, which ſhould be plung'd into a Hot-bed; and as the Water waſtes, ſo it muſt from time to time be renew'd again. In July theſe Plants may be ſet abroad in a warm Situation, ſtill preſerving the Water in the Pans, otherwiſe they will not thrive; and towards the latter end of Auguſt they will produce their Grain, which will ripen tolerably well, provided the Autumn proves favourable. Tho' the chief uſe of Rice be for Food, it is ſometimes made uſe of in Medicine: It nouriſhes well, ſtops Fluxes, is good in Armies, Camps, and Sieges; be⯑cauſe 'tis of light Carriage, and excellent Suſtenance, and eaſily prepared. It increaſes Blood, and reſtores in Conſumptions. chooſe the neweſt Rice, well cleanſed, large, that is to ſay plump, or well fed, white, and not duſty.

COTTON is the Product of a Plant which bears a Stalk about two Foot high, cover'd with a reddiſh hairy Bark, divided into ſeveral ſhort Branches: The Leaves are a little leſs than the Sycamore Leaves, ſhap'd almoſt like thoſe of the Vine, hanging to long Stalks, adorn'd with a kind of Nap, or Hair: The Flowers are numerous, fine and large, having the ſhape or form of a Bell, ſlit or cut into five or ſix Divi⯑ſions to the bottom, of a yellow Colour, mix'd with red or purple: When the Flower is fallen, 'tis ſucceed⯑ed by a Fruit the bigneſs of a Filbert; which being ripe opens into three or four Partitions, from whence appears a: Flake of Cotton, white as Snow, which ſwells up or tumeſies by Heat, to the ſize of a little Apple. It contains in it many groſs Seeds, like ſmall Peas, ob⯑long and cottony; each having in it a little oily Ker⯑nel, ſweet to the Taſte. There is another ſort of Cotton Tree that differs from the former in bigneſs, for this grows to the height of four or five Feet: The Leaves indented deep into three Parts, without Nap or Down: The Flowers and Fruit are like thoſe of the other Kind. Both theſe ſorts of Cotton grow in Egypt, Syria, Cyprus, Candia, and the Indies. In Jamaica, Barbadoes, and other Places in the Weſt Indies, the Cotton Tree uſually grows to a reaſonable height, ſpreading ſorth its Branches on all ſides; with ſmall, green, pointed Leaves; and beareth a Flower in form almoſt like the Sweet-Briar Roſe, but of a yellowiſh Colour: After the Bloſſoms are fallen, there followeth a kind of greeniſh round Button, or Knob almoſt as big as a Tennis Ball, having a thin cruſty Shell; which when full rice is of a dark brown or blackiſh Colour: In theſe round Buttons is incloſed the Cotton, which open when ripe in ſeveral Parti⯑tions like the former, out of which the Cotton falleth, if not timely gather'd: it contains likewiſe a great number of ſmall blackiſh Seeds, that grow incloſed in [102]the ſame Shell, which before the Cotton is made uſe of are pick'd out. There grow likewiſe in ſome of the American Plantations, Cotton Buſhes, or Shrubs, which approach very near in likeneſs to thoſe of Egypt, Arabia, &c.

The MANDRAKE Plant is diſtinguiſh'd by two Species; viz. the Common with a round Fruit, cal⯑led the Male Mandrake, and that with the purpliſh blue Flower, called the Female Mandrake. The Leaves of the former riſe directly from the Root, above a Foot long, broader than a Man's Hand in the mid⯑dle, and narrow at both Ends, ſmooth, of a deep green Colour, and a diſagreeable Smell. The Flow⯑ers of both theſe Plants are of the ſhape of a Bell, divided at the tops into ſeveral Parts, which after⯑wards becomes a globular ſoft Fruit, in which is con⯑rain'd many kidney-ſhap'd Seeds. The Root, as ſome ſay, repreſents, when it is whole, the lower Parts of a Man, from whence it is called Anthropomorpha, which ſignifies the Figure of a Man. But as to this feigned reſemblance of an human Form, which the Root of this Plant is ſaid to carry, 'tis all Impoſture, owing to the Cunning of Quacks and deſigning Knaves, who deceive the Ignorant with fictitious Images ſhap'd from the freſh Roots of Briony and other Plants: And what is reported as to the manner of rooting up this Plant, by tying a Dog thereto, to prevent the cer⯑tain Death of the Perſon who ſhould dare to attempt it, and the Groans it emits upon the Force offer'd, &c. it is all a fulſome Fable: for ſeveral large Roots of this Plant have been taken up; ſome of which have been tranſplanted into other Places, without obſerving any particular difference in this from any other deep⯑rooting Plant. Some Perſons worthy of Credit, have deliver'd as a Truth, that one of theſe Roots will re⯑main ſound above fifty Years, and be as vigorous as a young Plant; but they ſhould never be remov'd af⯑ter their Roots have arriv'd to any conſiderable ſize, which would break their lower Fibres, and ſo ſtint the Plants, as that they will not recover their for⯑mer ſtrength in two or three Years. The Female [102]

[103]Mandrake with the bluiſh purple Flower; differs from the former, in that its Leaves are ſmaller, nar⯑rower, more folded, blacker, trailing on the Ground, of a ſtrong ſtinking Smell; and the Fruit leſs and paler, not form'd like a Pear, as ſome Authors will have it; but round, ſcented, full of Juice, and con⯑taining very ſmall black Seeds. The Root is about a Foot long, divided into two Branches, brown with⯑out, white within, and furniſh'd with ſome Fibres, but nothing like the Male Plant. Both ſorts grow in hot Countries, in the Plains or mountainous Places; but the laſt much rarer. Theſe Plants are propagat⯑ed in Gardens from Seeds, which ſhou'd be ſown upon a Bed of light Earth ſoon after they are ripe; where they ſhould remain till the latter end of Au⯑guſt, (obſerving always to keep them clear from Weeds) at which time they ſhould be taken up very carefully, and tranſplanted into the Places where they are to re⯑main, which ſhould be a light deep Soil, for their Roots do always run downwards very deep; and if the Plants are not diſturb'd, they will grow to a large ſize in a few Years, and will produce great quantities of Flowers and Fruit, and they will abide a great many Years. There are Mandrakes mention'd in the 30th Chap. of Geneſis, which Reuben is ſaid to have found in the Field, in the time of Wheat Harveſt; and with which his Mother Leah purchas'd from her Siſter Rachel no leſs a Favour than the Enjoyment of her Husband. What thoſe Mandrakes ſhould be that were ſo deſirable to Rachel; whether ſhe coveted them for their delectable Taſte, their fragrant Smell, or their beautiful Colour, does not appear: And as our learned Commentators differ in their Opinions about it, I ſhall not venture to give my own; but only obſerve, that in the Canticles it is ſaid, The Man⯑drakes give a ſmell, and at our gates are all manner of pleaſant fruits: Which ſeems to intimate, as if the Mandrakes were a Fruit of a pleaſant Taſte, a fragrant Smell, and delightful to the Eye: for when Solomon ſays, the Mandrakes give a ſmell; ſure he muſt mean a grateful Smell, or methinks he would hardly have introduc'd them to adorn a Paſtoral Song: and as he [104]immediately adds, at our gates are all manner of plea⯑ſant fruits; it ſeems to imply, that the Mandrake was likewiſe a pleaſant Fruit, which perhaps, was ſo both to the Eye and Palate: But be that as it will, this we may venture to affirm, that the Mandrake Plants known to us now, whether wild or cultivated; have no ſuch deſirable qualities, as to render them ſo va⯑luable to the good Women of our days, to give in exchange their Husbands for them: For theſe, con⯑trary to what is mention'd in Scripture, have a diſ⯑agreeable Smell.

The CEDAR of Libanus is a very large, thick, ſtraight Tree: Its Leaves ſmall and ſlender; being much narrower than thoſe of the Pine-Tree, diſpoſed in Cluſters along the Branches; and the Fruit like our Pine-Apples; but grows upon the upper part of the Branches, and ſtands erect, having a ſtrong woody central Style, by which it is firmly annex'd to the Branch, ſo as with difficulty to be taken off: which central Style remains upon the Branches, after the Cone is fallen to pieces; ſo that they never drop off whole as the Pine-Apples do. It is ſaid, that from the Trunk, and the large Branches of this Tree, there flows, during the great Heats, without any Inci⯑ſion, a ſort of white Reſin, very clear, and of a grateful Odour; which they call Cedar-Gum, of which the largeſt Trees yield not leſs than ſix Ounces a day. The Cones of the Cedar are brought from the Le⯑vant, which, if preſerv'd intire, will continue their Seeds for ſeveral Years: The time of their ripening is commonly in the Spring, and are near one Year old before we receive them; for which they are not the worſe, but rather the better. To get the Seeds out of the Cone, they ſplit it, by driving a ſharp piece of Iron through the Centre lengthways, and ſo pull the Seeds out with their Fingers; which Seeds are faſten'd to a thin leafy Subſtance, as are thoſe of the Firr-Tree. For the ordering the Cedar Plant, ſee Miller's Directions in his Gardener's Dictionary. What we find mention'd in Scripture of the lofty Cedars, can be no ways applicable to the Stature of this Tree; ſince, from the Experience we have of thoſe now growing in England, as alſo from the Teſtimony of ſeveral who have viſited thoſe few remaining Trees on Mount Libanus, they are not inclin'd to grow very loſty, but, on the contrary, extend their Branches [106]very far: To which the Alluſion made by the Pſalm⯑iſt agrees very well, when he is deſcribing the flou⯑riſhing State of a People, and ſays, They ſhall ſpread their Branches like the Cedar Tree. Mr. Maundrel, in his Travels, ſays, when he viſited Mount Libanus, there were but ſixteen large Trees remaining; ſome of which were of a prodigious Bulk, but that there were many more young Trees of a ſmaller ſize; he meaſur'd one of the largeſt, and found it to be twelve Yards ſix Inches in girt, and yet ſound, and thirty ſeven Yards in the ſpread of its Boughs. At about five or ſix Yards from the Ground, it was divided into five Limbs, each of which was equal to a great Tree. The Wood of this famous Tree is accounted Proof againſt all Putrefaction of Animal Bodies: The Saw-duſt of it is thought to be one of the Secrets uſed by thoſe Mountebanks who pretend to have the embalming Myſtery. This Wood is alſo ſaid to yield an Oil which is famous for preſerving Books and Writ⯑ings: and the Wood is thought by my Lord Bacon to continue a thouſand Years ſound. Of Cedar Wood was moſt of the Timber-Work of that glorious Struc⯑ture, the Temple of Jeruſalem.

The Contexture of the SENSIBLE PLANT is very ſurpriſing; for, upon touching any of the Sprigs with Leaves on, all the Leaves on that Sprig contracting themſelves by Pairs, joined their upper Superfices cloſe together. Upon the dropping a Drop of Aqua-fortis on the Sprig betwixt the Leaves, all the Leaves above ſhut preſently, thoſe below by Pairs ſucceſſively after, by and by the lower Leaves of the other Branches, and ſo every Pair ſucceſſively, with ſome little diſtance of time betwixt, to the top of each Sprig, and ſo they continued ſhut for ſome time: But returning to the Garden the next Day, and ſeveral Days after, found all the Leaves dilated again on two of the Sprigs; but where the Aqua-fortis had dropped, upwards, dead and withered; but thoſe below on the ſame Sprig, green, and cloſ⯑ing upon the Touch as before, and continu'd ſo. With a Pair of Sciſſars, as ſuddenly as it could be done, one of the Leaves was clipped off in the mid⯑dle; upon which that Pair, and the Pair above, cloſ⯑ed preſently; after a little Interval thoſe under, and ſo the reſt of the Pairs to the bottom of the Sprig; and then the Motion began in the lower Pairs on the other Sprigs, and ſo ſhut them by Pairs upwards, though not with ſuch diſtinct diſtances. Upon cut⯑ting off one of the harder Branches, there came out a Liquor, without preſſure; very clear, and of a bright greeniſh Colour, taſting at firſt a little bitter⯑iſh, but after leaving a liquorice like Taſte behind: [110]which probably, the Motion of this Plant upon touching might proceed from this; that there being a conſtant Intercourſe betwixt every Part of this Plant and its Root, either by a Circulation of this Liquor, or a conſtant preſſing of the ſubtiler Parts of it to every Extremity of the Plant. The above Experiments were made by Dr. Hooke, on ſome of theſe Plants which grew in a Garden in St. James's Park. I have read, that in the Paſſage of the Iſthmus, from Nombre de Dios to Panama, there is a whole Wood full of Senſitive Trees, of which, as ſoon as they are touch'd, the Leaves cloſe and move with a rattling Noiſe, and twiſt themſelves together into a winding Figure.