V irginia 



rich and vivid colours with which each particular 

 species is distinguished and beautified; and such is 

 the number and appearance of the fire-flies, that on 

 a summer's evening the whole air seems to glow 

 and to be enlightened by them. Several snakes of 

 this country are harmless and beautiful; such as the 

 black snake, the wampum-snake, the bead-snake, 

 the garter-snake, and some others: but the rattle- 

 snake and vipers are exceedingly venomous and 

 deadly. There are two curious species of frogs here: 

 one is called the bull-frog, which is prodigiously 

 large, and makes so loud a noise, that it may be heard 

 at a great distance; the other is a small green frog, 

 which sits upon the boughs of trees, and is found in 

 almost every garden. 



Of quadrupeds there are various kinds; squirrels 

 of four or five different species*, opossums, raccoons, 

 foxes, beavers, and deer: and in the deserts and un- 

 inhabited parts, wolves, bears, panthers, elks or 



and sucking out the sweetest juices. The motion of their wings 

 is incredibly swift and produces a humming noise, not unlike that 

 of a large humble bee. They are frequently kept in cages, but 

 seldom live longer than two months. The food which is given 

 them, is either honey or sugar, mixed with water. Repeated at- 

 tempts have been made to send them alive to England, but always 

 without success. 



* Of the several species of squirrels, the ground and flying 

 squirrels are much the smallest and most beautiful. The former 

 are of a dusky orange hue, streaked with black; the latter grey or 

 ash-coloured, and elegantly formed. These have a spreading or 

 fan-tail, and two membranes adhering to their sides; which, when 

 they spring or leap from a tree, they expand, and are thereby en- 



[43] 



