Ch. VJI. south AMERICA. 59 



that after funfet, when they begin to fiy, they may, 

 without any hyperbole, be laid to cover the ftreets hke 

 clouds *. They are the nioft dexterous bleeders both of 

 men and cattle; for the inhabitants being obliged, by 

 the exceffive heats, to leave open the doors and win- 

 dows of the chambers v>?here they flcep, the bats get 

 in, and if they happen to find the foot of any one bare, 

 they infinuate their tooth into a vein, with all the art 

 of the moil expert furgeon, fucking the blood till they 

 are fatiated, and withdraw their tooth; after which the 

 blood flows out at the orifice. I have been aflured, 

 by perions of the ftriiteft veracity, that fuch an ac- 

 cident has happened to them ; and that, had they not 

 providentially awaked foon, their ilcep would have 

 been their paffage into eternity ; they having loil (b 

 large a quantity of blood, as hardly to be able to bind 

 up the orifice. The puncture not being felt is (befides 

 the great precaution with which it is niadej attributed 

 to the gentle and refrefhing agitation of the air by the 

 bat's wings, hindering the pcrfon from feeling this 

 flight punélure by throwing him into a deeper fleep. 

 Nearly the fame thing happens to horfcs, mules, and 

 aires ; but beafis of a thick and hard flvin are not ex- 

 pofed to this inconveniency. 



We fhall next proceed to the infe(9:s and reptiles, i a 

 which nature has no lefs difplayed its infinite power. 

 The great number of them is not only an inconveni- 

 ence to the inhabitants, but health and ev^.-n life itfelf 

 often luflers trom the malignity of their poifon. The 

 principal are the fnakes, the cientopies 'j-, the fcor- 

 pions, and the Ipiders ; of all v;hich there are different 

 kinds, and their poifons of different acj^ivi'y. 



* They are almoftas large as rats; and the infide of the roofs of 

 the outhoufes are generaUy liijed with them. A. 



t Or hundred feet. They are very common throughout the 

 warmer regions of .A merica. Common fait is a fpecific againft their 

 bite^ as alfo againíl the íiing of the fcorpion. A. 



Op 



