Virginia 



rich and vivid colours with which each particular 

 species is distinguished and beautified; and such is 

 the number and appearance of the fire-flies, that on 

 a summer's evening the whole air seems to glow 

 and to be enlightened by them. Several snakes of 

 this country are harmless and beautiful; such as the 

 black snake, the wampum-snake, the bead-snake, 

 the garter-snake, and some others: but the rattle- 

 snake and vipers are exceedingly venomous and 

 deadly. There are two curious species of frogs here: 

 one is called the bull-frog, which is prodigiously 

 large, and makes so loud a noise, that it may be heard 

 at a great distance; the other is a small green frog, 

 which sits upon the boughs of trees, and is found in 

 almost every garden. 



Of quadrupeds there are various kinds; squirrels 

 of four or five different species*, opossums, raccoons, 

 foxes, beavers, and deer: and in the deserts and un- 

 inhabited parts, wolves, bears, panthers, elks or 



and sucking out the sweetest juices. The motion of their wings 

 is incredibly swift and produces a humming noise, not unlike that 

 of a large humble bee. 7 hey are frequently kept in cages, but 

 seldom live longer than two months. The food which is given 

 them, is either honey or sugar, mixed with water. Repeated at- 

 tempts have been made to send them alive to England, but always 

 without success. 



* Of the several species of squirrels, the ground and flying 

 squirrels are much the smallest and most beautiful. The former 

 are of a dusky orange hue, streaked with black; the latter grey or 

 ash-coloured, and elegantly formed. These have a spreading or 

 fan-tail, and two membranes adhering to their sides; which, when 

 they spring or leap from a tree, they expand, and are thereby en- 



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