I 50 I 



natives of places very diftant and unknown, by 

 which, not only the ignorant, but fometimes the 

 more knowing, are deceived ; and, to ftrike us 

 with furprife, they pretend that to be a fierce* 

 lavage and untameable creature, which in itg 

 real nature is very gentle and harmlefs. From 

 fuch impofitions proceeds the vulgar opinion, 

 that the porcupine is a fierce beaft, and that it 

 can kill by ihooting its quills, though indeed 

 he is a beaft of the more gentle and harmlefs 

 kind. I believe there are few obferving people^ 

 that are any way curious, but muft have de- 

 tedled fome of their cheats. Many African 

 birds have got the name of Americans amongft 

 us, becaufe they generally come to us from th* 

 Weft* Indies -, they being firft brought thither 

 from Africa in ftiips, which trade in Negroe 

 flaves, and prefented by captains to governors 

 and planters in America, from whom they aré 

 often fent into England as prefents to the nobility 

 and our London merchants, without mentioning 

 their being natives of Africa, by which miftakc 

 many birds are afferted to be natives of coun- 

 tries where they were not bred. Therefore, 

 fince it is Jiot always poffible to gain fuch full 



and 



