202 CURIOUS CREATURES. 



be this : the crocodiles by reason of their continuall 

 devouring beasts and fishes have certaine pieces of flesh 

 sticking fast betweene their forked teeth, which flesh 

 being putrified, breedeth a kind of worme, wherewith 

 they are cruelly tormented ; wherefor the said birds 

 flying about, and seeing the wormes enter into the 

 Crocodile's jaws to satisfie their hunger thereon, but the 

 Crocodile perceiving himselfe freede from the wormes of 

 his teeth, offereth to shut his mouth, and to devour the 

 little bird that did him so good a turne, but being 

 hindred from his ungratefull attempt by a pricke which 

 groweth upon the bird's head, hee is constrayned to 

 open his jawes, and to let her depart." 



Du Bartas gives another colour to the behaviour of 

 the Trochilus : 



" The Wren, who seeing (prest with sleep's desire) 

 Nile's poys'ny Pirate press the slimy shoar, 

 Suddenly corns, and, hopping him before, 

 Into his mouth he skips, his teeth he pickles. 

 Clenseth his palate, and his throat so tickles, 

 That, charm'd with pleasure, the dull Serpent gapes. 

 Wider and wider, with his ugly chaps : 

 Then, like a shaft, th' Ichneumon instantly 

 Into the Tyrants greedy gorge doth fly, 

 And feeds upon that Glutton, for whose Riot, 

 All Nile's fat margents scarce could furnish diet." 



WOOLLY HENS. 



Sir John Maundeville saw in " the kingdome named 

 Mancy, which is the best kingdome of the worlde 

 (Manzi, that part of China south of the river Hoang-ho) 

 whyte hennes, and they beare no feathers, but woll as 

 shepe doe in our lande." 



