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A WATCHFUL SENTINEL. 



axiom, confirmed by immemorial experience, that " a serpent seen is 

 a serpent dead." In truth, the serpent is only formidable to man 

 when not perceived, and when one treads upon it accidentally. In 

 the open field its defeat and death are inevitable, however little 

 coolness or skill its assailant may possess. And to warn us of the 

 presence of the Trigonocephalus, Nature has supplied us with numerous 

 watchful sentinels in the small birds, whose not unreasonable hate 



TRIQONOCEPHALUS PURSUED BY BIRDS. 



against this serpent is a remarkable proof of their intelligence. If 

 ever your destiny conduct you to the Antilles, says a naturalist, cold- 

 blooded sportsman as you may be, do not slay the little bird which 

 the grateful negroes, though he sings but little, have wished to name 

 the nightingale ; for if you do so, they will regard you with suspicion 

 and dislike. He is their protector, and he watches also over you. 

 No sooner does he see, from his aerial station, the scales of the reptile 



