164 The Natural Historic 



The Sand-fiie, so called, from their breeding, and always 

 being found in the Sand-banks, and near the Rivers, they are 

 very small, not much larger than a Gnat, and are almost as 

 pernicious and troublesom as the Muskeetoes, especially 

 about the Face and no where else. 



The Wasps are very plenty in this Province, they build 

 their ^NTests in Trees, the substance whereof seems like Cob- 

 webs, or a kind of brown Paper, and it is said they ingender 

 in Autumn, but never in the Spring, and are bred out of the 

 softer parts of Horse-flesh, they live upon Flesh, and several 

 sorts of Insects, which they hunt after and kill for their Pro- 

 visions. The Wasps, like manj^ other Insects, are not to be 

 seen all the Winter, but lie in Holes or hollow Trees all that 

 Season, and they live not above two Years. They seldom are 

 mischievous, or do any harm, except you provoke them, or 

 approach too near their ^JTests, which the Planters frequently 

 set fire to, by shooting at them with Gun-powder. (This is 

 commonly done late in the Evening, or early in the Morning) 

 and then they run away as fast as possibly they can, to avoid 

 being stung, for when they are provoked, they will pursue in 

 great J^umbers those that have molested them. Their Sting 

 is worse than that of the Bees, and is cured by application of 

 Cow-dung mixed with Barly-meal, or Leaven mixed with 

 Oil and Vinegar. The Powder of them is good to open Ob- 

 structions of the Reins and Bladder, some use them in all 

 Cases where 8oivs or Hog-lice are used, and with the same 

 success. 



The Hornets are in great plenty in this Province ; they 

 build their ISJ'ests in Caves and Holes in the Earth, much lika 

 the former, and are said to be produced out of the harder 

 parts of Horse-flesh, as the other is out of the softer. Their 

 Decoction, or distilled Water, if touched on the Skin, makes 

 the place swell as if there was a Dropsie, or the Parts had 



been 



