650 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [anN0 1702. 



An Account of a Booh, viz. — Edmimdi Dickenson, M. D. Phi/sica Veins et Vera ; 

 sive, Tractattts de Naturali Veritale Hexameri Mosaici. Per que7n prohatur in 

 Historia Creationis cum, Generationis Universce Methodum atque Modum, turn 

 vera Philosophise Principia, strictim atque breviter tradi. Land. 1^02, in 4to. 

 N° 277, p. 1063. 



Many persons having cavilled at the Mosaical Cosmopaeia, as unphilc^ophi- 

 cally written, the author here undertakes to show, that Moses, in his History 

 of the Creation, has briefly delivered both the principles of true philosophy, 

 and the method and manner of all generation. 



Observations made in the Island of Ceylon ; on the Methods of catching Foivl and 

 Deer, of Serpents, of the Ant Bear, and of Cinnajnon. By Mr. Strachan. 

 N° 278, p. 1094. 



The method used to catch water-fowl is this : in waters which are not very 

 deep, the fowler puts upon his head an earthen-pot, in which holes are bored, 

 to see through ; he then wades into the water, nothing being seen but the pot 

 which covers his head, and thus appearing like a floating vessel, he gets among 

 the fowls and takes as many as he pleases, drawing them one by one under the 

 water. Those who have guns, make a frame, covered with green branches, and 

 broad enough to conceal the whole body : these they use in the manner of a 

 stalking horse. They chase wild beasts by frightening them with fire, thus : 

 In the night time two men go into the wood ; one takes an earthen vessel on 

 his head, in which is a fire made of sticks and a kind of rosin ; and in one hand . 

 he carries a staff, on which are fastened 8 bells, the more harmonious the better; 

 the other man follows with a spear in his hand; whenever the deer perceives 

 the light, and hears the bells, he draws near, standing amazed, for he sees not 

 the men ; in the mean time the man with the spear pierces his body, and catches 

 him. As to elephants, tigers, serpents, and wild swine, they run when they 

 see the fire, so that the hunters need not fear them. 



There are two sorts of serpents which are thought not to be venomous, and 

 which a Ceylonese will not kill ; the first is of a bluish colour, and frequently 

 comes into houses to search for rats only, and eats them ; he creeps into their 

 nests, and destroys them all ; this serpent is of the thickness of an inch and a 

 half in diameter, and about two yards and a half long. The other is green, 

 like the leaf of a tree, on which it winds itself, climbs up the trees and catches 

 the birds ; lying still as if it had no motion, till it sees a fit opportunity to catch : 

 this is about half an inch diameter, and a yard long. 



