o8 A NATURAL HISTORY 



Claws both in its Head and Tail, of rank Poifon, as the Hifto- 

 rian fays. 



XLVIL The Jebeya is another Brazilian, and a Serpent very- 

 ravenous and deftrudlive : It has four Legs, and a long Tail like 

 a Crocodile ; it lies flat and clofe on the Ground, artfully conceal- 

 ing itfelf, 'till the Prey comes within reach, and then darts out 

 a couple of fharp Fins from its Fore-quarters, and kills what- 

 ever it ftrikes. 



XLVIII. The Giraupiagara is 2in AmericanSer^tnt, focall'd, 

 becaufe of its being a great Devourer of Eggs. 'Tis of a Negro- 

 Colour, but a yellow Breaft, and of great Length and Agility. 

 it glides (as if fwimming) on the tops of Trees, fafter than any 

 Man can run on the Ground.*. 



It lives upon Birds, whofe Nefts it conftantly plunders. 'Tis 

 obfervable, that the Cuckow feeds very much upon Eggs^ which 

 accounts for the vulgar Notion, that it always has one or more 

 little Birds, as Menials to attend it, thefe being fome of thofe, 

 whofe Houfes it plundered. There is another Charge preferred 

 againft the Cuckow, viz. The Contempt it puts upon our Ve- 

 getables, by fpittingupon them; whereas in thofe Dobs of frothy 

 Dew, we find little Green Infedls, that are Grafhoppers in the 

 Embryo. 



XLIX. The Caminana is another Brazilian Serpent., of a 

 great length. The Body is all over green, and very beautiful in 

 profpedt. This alfo runs up the Trees, not fo much becaufe of 

 the green Leaves, as in purfuit of Birds of all Colours; and hav- 

 ing devoured the Contents of the Neft, feizes the Dam, and 

 drinks her Blood. 



The pleafing Appearance made by this Serpent in Green, puts 

 me in mind of the Turks, who have fo great a SHperftition for the 

 green Colour (becaufe it was confccrated to Mahomet) that they 

 forbid Chriftians to wear it on pain of Death ; but the Perfia-ns 

 (who are Mahometansd.^ well as the 'Turks) allow it to every body, 

 and laugh at this Superftition ; fo that when Sultan Amurath 

 feat an Ambaffador to Sha- Abbas of Perjla, to complain that he 



fuifer'd; 



* Kkabajf in Atlas-, America. 



