( xn ) 
Among our handfome infects the Jire-fly is the firft : thoufands of thefe 
iflumine our fummer nights, and by their gambols in the air, prefent 2 
fky full of falling ftars;* but we know not where thefe lamps are hid 
in the long winter-nights. 
A ftriking mechanifm is remarked in the horn-beetles of various kinds; 
and efpecially the wood fawer, who with two curve mwardly dentated 
prongs, can cut off {mall twigs of trees. I venture to add a zoophyton 
in the Ohio country, which alternately is vegetable and animal.+ But 
without fuch extraordinary phenomena, the ceconomy of the numerous 
little animals is wonderful enough to awaken our attention, efpecially in 
this country, where it is yet unexplored. 
Thirty a forty fpecies of fnakes are counted; but feveral are ver 
imperfectly known; efpecially thofe who are rare or local. _ The Jorn- 
faake is now feldom feen ; but many accounts agree, that the fpur of his 
tail is fo venemous, as to kill young trees, if by accident it ftrikes them; 
which has with minute facts been told me by fome ancient Swedes. The 
king-/nake of the South, is not feen (I believe) far North. ‘The double- 
headed {nake may be a monftrous production ; but two fpecimens of it 
are found in New-England, and two more are now in Mr. Peale’s Mufe- 
um. That fome kinds of ferpents charm birds and fquirrels is.a fa@; 
but in what manner we know not. Fortunately the {maller number is 
venomous 3 but which fpecies fhould be avoided is an interefting quefti- 
en: though the green /nake, unperceptible in the grafs, is harmlefs; 
fome that occafionally come near houfes, are not fo. - 
On quadrupeds in general, two inquiries are interefting : what is the 
fpecific difference from thofe of the fame genus in the Eaftern world ? 
and how doth the fame {pecies vary here under different latitudes? in 
the firft our zygers and panthers require particular notice: in the fecond 
the bear, who frequents the interior country from North to South ; and 
this panther, who has alfo a wide range. Among thofe peculiar to 
North America the J40/e-deer is yet undefcribed, and known to few 
perfons 
* Thunberg defcribes thofe of Japan in the fame manner, under name of Lampyris Faponica. 
+ This was communicated to me by a refpectable Miffionary, who had long been among 
the Indians, and had feen this animal; but would not have his name mentioned, asthe matter 
may appear incredible : it is 3 a 4 inches high, and after having crawled about the woods, 
is fixed in the ground, becoming-a plant with a ftem through its mouth etc. It is analogous 
to the vegetable fly of Dominica, that buries itfelf in the ground, dies, and fprings up like a 
young coffee-plant; for which it is often miftaken, untill the root upon examination is found to 
be the head, feet, and body of the animal; fee the Natural hiftory of Dominica by Th. Ats 
wood, publifhed. 1791. 
