10 A NATURAL HISTORY 



SECTION III. 



SE R P E N T S are fuppofed to have many Enemies, befide? 

 Man, as the Eagle, Hawk, Stork, Ibis, Ichneumon, Ma- 

 gaiire, &c. I fliall only touch upon fome of thefe: Ibis, is a 

 Bird of Egypt, and a faithful Ally in the War againft Serpents 5 

 vaft Numbers of winged Serpents are annually bred in Arabia, 

 from whence, at certain Seafons, Swarms of them take their flight 

 acrofs the 2?f(^-6'^<3 into Egypt: Upon the firft notice of their Ar- 

 rival, the Ibidian Birds aflemble in Troops, and immediately fly 

 upon the Invaders, and foon defl:roy them. In the fame manner 

 they execute Vengeance upon the Serpents of Ethiopia, when 

 they moleft the Land *. 



The Storks deftroy all Serpents that fall in their way, and 

 are fo greatly regarded in Thefjaly for this kind office, that it is 

 counted a capital Crime to kill a Stork, and the Criminal is pu- 

 nifhed as in the cafe of Man-flaughter. 



"|- T H E Stork's Bill is very long and fharp, witli which it makes 

 a rattling kindofNoife: It is faid, the Chirurgeons have learn'd 

 the Clyfterick Art from thefe Birds. 



The Storks alfo are efteemed the Clergy's Friends, for the Au- 

 thor of the Book of Nature fays, they will not inhabit any City 

 in Germany, where no Tythes are paid to the Prieft. An Ortho- 

 dox Brood of Birds ! 



When Mofes condu(fledthe Egyptian Army againft the Ethio- 

 pians, he was to pafs through a Country full of Serpents, and to 

 fecure his Forces from them in their March, he carried with him 

 feveral of thefe Ibidian Birds, before whofe Fury they fell or 

 fied+. 



ICHNEUMON Is a little Animal of bold Spirit, and a 

 great Deftroyer of Serpents, and therefore the Egyptians keep it 

 in their Houfes, as we do Catsj and the young ones are com- 

 monly fold for that end at Alexandria. In form it refembles an 

 over-grown Rat, and is called the Indian-Rat, and Pharaoh's 

 Rat; and by its mighty Atcliievements, it muft be of fome con- 

 5 liderable 



* Conradus Gefn. p. 55. Ray. GylUus. f Pliny s Nat. Hiji, Tom.i. B. lO. 



t J°fipf^"h B- i'« Cap, V. p. 65. 



