ic8 A NATURAL HISTORY 



Claws both in its Head and Tail, of rank Poifon, as the Hiflo- 

 rian fays. 



XL VII. The Jebeya is another Brazilian.^ and a Serpent very 

 ravenous and deftru6tive : It has four Legs, and a long Tail like 

 a Crocodile-, it lies flat and clofe on the Ground, artfully conceal- 

 ing itfelf, 'till the Prey comes within reach, and then darts out 

 a couple of fharp Fins from its Fore-quarters, and kills what- 

 ever it fir ikes, 



XL VIII. The Gtrmipiagara is an American Serpent, fo call'd, 

 becaufe of its being a great Devourer of Eggs. 'Tis of a Negro- 

 Colour, but a yellow Bre^ft, and of great Length and Agility, 

 It glides (as if fwimming) on the tops of Trees, fafter than any 

 Man can run upon the Ground *. 



It lives upon Birds, whofe Nefts it conftantly plunders. 'Tis 

 obfervable, that tlie Ciickow feeds very much upon Egg^^ which 

 accounts for the vulgar Notion, that it always has one or more 

 little Birds, as Menials to attend it, thefe being fome of thofe, 

 whofe Houfes it plundered. There is another Charge preferred 

 again ft the Cuckow, i;/^;. The Contempt it puts upon our Ve- 

 getables, by fpitting upon them ; whereas in thofe Dobs of frothy 

 Dew, we lind little Green Infedts, that are Gra£hoppers in the 

 Embryo. 



XLIX. The Caminaiia is another Brazilian Berpent^ of a 

 great length. The Body is all over green, and very beautiful in 

 profped:. This alfo runs up the Trees, not fo much becaufe of 

 the green Leaves, as in purfuit of Birds of all Colours ; and hav- 

 ing devoured the Contents of the Neft, feizes the Dam, and 

 drinks her Blood. 



The pleailng Appearance made by this Serpent in Green^ puts 

 me in mind of the Turks, who have fo great a Superjlition for the 

 green Colour (becaufe it was confecrated to Mahomet^ that they 

 forbid Chriftians to wear it on pain of Death ; but the Ferfians 

 (who are Maho^netans as well as the Turks) allow it to every body, 

 and laugh at this Superftition ; fo that when Sultan Amurath 

 fent an Ambaffador to S ha- Abbas of Perjla, to complain that he 



fuffer'd 



* t^ieuhofin Atlas ^ America. 



