The Hijlory of Book I. 



MABOVJATS. 



THe Mabonjats are of feveral colours i thofe which have 

 their abode in rotten Trees, and fenny places, as alfb in 

 deep and narrow Valleys into which the Sun pierces not, are 

 black and extreamly hideous, which no doubt occafiond their 

 being called by the fame name the Savages give the Devil : 

 their bignefs commonly is little more then an inch, their length 

 fix or feven : the fkins of them all are as if they were oyrd. 



GOBE-MOZJCHES, 



THofe which the French call Gobe-MoHches, that is, in Eng- 

 lilh Fly-catchers^ from their moft ordinary exercife $ and 

 the Caribbians, OuUeouma, are the leaft of all the Reptiles in 

 thefe Iflands : they are in figure like thofe the Latines call Stel~ 

 Hones : fome of them feem to be cover'd with fine gold or fil- 

 ver Brocado 5 others with a mixture of green, gold, and fe- 

 veral other delightful colours : they are fo familiar that they 

 come boldly into rooms, where they do nomifchief, nay on the 

 contrary, they clear them of Flies, and fuch Vermjne. This 

 employment they perform with fuch dexterity and nimblenefs, 

 that the fleights and defigns of Hunts-men are nothing com- 

 par'd to thofe of this little Beaft<$ for he fculks down, and 

 tiands as it were Sentinel on a plank, or fome other thing that 

 is higher then the floor, where he hopes the Fly will light 5 

 and perceiving his prey, he keeps his eye always fixt upon it, 

 putting his head into as many different poftures as the Fly (hifts 

 places 5 and (landing up on his fore-feet, and gaping after it, he 

 half opens his little wide mouth, as if he already devour'd and 

 fwallow'd it by hope : Nay though there be a noife made in the 

 room, and fome body come neer him, he is fo attentive on his 

 game that he quits not his poll: 5 and having at laft found his ad- 

 vantage, he ftarts fo direftly on his prey, that he very lejdom 

 milles it. It is an innocent divertifement to confider with what 

 earneftnefs and attention thefe little creatures ftiift for their 

 livelihood. 



Befides, they are fo tame that they will come upon the Ta- 

 ble while people are eating, and if they perceive a Fly, thsy 

 will attempt the taking of it even upon their Trenchers who 

 lit at Table, ray upon their hands or cloaths? and they arefuf- 

 fered to do fo,becaufe they are fo fmooth and cleanly ,that their 

 pa fling over the meat creates no averfion to thofe who are to eat 

 of it : in the night time they bear a part in the Mufick made by 

 the Anolis^ and other little Lizzards. And to propagate their 

 fpecies, they lay fmall Egges as big as Peafe, which having co- 

 ver'd with a little earth, they leave to be hatched by the Sun : 



as 



