STUDY XI. 



3*7 



The cchium, which has it's feed formed like the 

 head of a viper, is fatal to thofe reptiles. It is 

 probable, that, from fuch configurations, men, in 

 the earlier ages of the World, difcovered the rela- 

 tions and the oppofitions between plants and ani- 

 mals. I am difpofed to believe, that each genus 

 of infect has it's deftrucYive vegetable with which 

 we are unacquainted. In general, all vermin fhuns 

 perfume. 



Nature has farther given us, in plants, the firft 

 patterns of nets for hunting and fifhing. There 

 grows on certain heaths in China, a fpecies of ra- 

 tan, fo interwoven and fo ftrong, as to catch and 

 hold fall the flag, though in full vigour. I myfelf 

 have feen on the fands of the fea-fhore in the Iile 

 of France, a fpecies of lianne, called the falfe-po- 

 tatoe, which covers whole acres, like a vaft filhing 

 net. It is fo perfectly adapted to this very pur- 

 pofe, that the Negroes actually employ it in fiih- 

 ing. They form, with the ftems and foliage of it, 

 a very long feries of cordages, which they call 

 into the fea ; and having difpofed them in a chain 

 encompaffing a great fpace on the water, they draw 

 it afhore by the two extremities. They fcarcely 

 ever fail to bring out fiih * , for the fillies are ter- 

 rified, not only by a net which enclofes them, but 



* See Francis Pyrard's Voyage to the Maldivias. 



by 



