STRANGE FISH, &C. OF CHINA. 233 



They also report, that in this Province there is a Bird produc'd 

 of the Flower Tunchon, which therefore is call'd Tunchonfung. 

 This Bird doth Measure out life with the Days of the Flower, so 

 fading, and so expiring : She is vested with so great variety of 

 Plumes, that her Wings expanded, lively deportray the Beauties 

 of the Flower when blown. 



There is in the Province of Quantung the so much admir'd 

 Animal, by the Chineses call'd Hoangioyu, that is, The Saffron- 

 Fish, which in the Summer Season is wonderfully transform'd to 

 a Bird of the same Colour, and like other Fowls flying over the 

 Mountains, seeketh its Nutriment ; but when Autumn is ended, 

 returning to the Sea, it is chang'd into a Fish, which the Natives 

 esteem as a great Delicacy for its most pleasant taste. 



They report of a Fish in the same Province which they call 

 The Swimming Cow, that it often cometh Ashore, and fighteth 

 with the Land Cows : but continuing long out of the Water, the 

 Horn waxeth soft, and becoming of no defence, the Fish is com- 

 pell'd to return again to the Waters to recover the hardness of the 

 Horn. 



In the Province of Quantung is found a Sea Monster with four 

 Eyes and six Feet, which liveth by feeding on Oysters, and vomits 

 up things like Pearls ; it resembleth the Creature call'd a Sea- 

 Spider, and is not much unlike a Tortoise. 



In the Province of Quangsi, in the Cleft of a Mountain, are Fish 

 that have four Feet and Horns, which the Chinese call The Delight 

 of the Dragon, and esteem it an Offence worthy to be punish'd 

 with Death to injure them. They say also, That there is in this 

 Tract of Land an Animal which resembleth a Bird in the Head, 

 and a Fish in the Tail, which they call Rondoves that is Swallows ; 

 I have one to shew in my Study, which will turn itself unto that 

 part from whence the Wind bloweth. 



The same Author likewise reporteth, That in this Province are 

 found Crabs, which when they have left the Water and come into 

 the Air, immediately are turn'd into a hard Stone, yet retaining 

 their form. 



In the Empire of the Mogor there is a sort of Serpent, swoln 

 with deadly Venom, and exceedingly valu'd for the excellent Anti- 

 dotes that are compounded of them. Let this Serpent be steep'd 

 in a large Vessel full of rich Wine, so that his Head may come out 

 at a Hole made in the middle of the Cover, then put Fire under 

 it till the Wine be ready to boil, and the Poyson of the Serpent 

 breathe out, and is all dissolv'd into Smoke, the Head being cut 



VOL. i. 1833. F2 



