JAC JAC 
fiderable number of fubordinate fpecles. This 
term is derived from Ymen, a Membrane; and 
Pteron, a Wing. 
HYPNOTICUS SERPENS, the Sleep Snake. 
An Eaft Indian fpecies of ferpent, called by the 
Ceylonefe Nintipolong, a word importing the famg 
meaning. It is of a deep blackilh brown colour^ 
variegated with white fpots; and it's poifon, which 
is extremely fubtle, always brings on a fleep thaC 
terminates in death. 
JABIRU. a large aquatic bird of the crane 
kind, by fome called the Negro. It is a native 
of Brazil, and was firft defcribed by Marcgrave. 
It is fomewhat larger than the fwan ; the head is 
large; the neck is thick; the beak is long and 
ftraight; and the legs, which are two feet long, are 
thick and fcaly. The body is entirely white; the 
neck and head are naked, and covered with a thick 
black Ikin inftead of feathers ; and the tail is broad 
and fhort. 
JABIRUGUACU. A Brazilian bird, called 
alfo Nanduapoa; and by the Dutch, Scurvogel. 
JABOTI. An American fpecies of tortoife; 
the fhell of which is black, m.arked with numerous 
hexangular fpots ; and the head and legs are brown, 
variegated with fpots of a dufky greenifh hue. 
JACAMACIRI. A Brazilian bird about the 
fize of the lark, with a ftraight, fharp-pointed, 
black bill, near two inches long. It approaches 
to the nature of the woodpecker tribe, having feet 
of a fimilar fhape with thofe of that genus ; but it's 
tongue is Ihort, in which particular it differs from 
all other woodpeckers. It's whole head, neck, 
wings, back, and tail, are green, variegated with 
yellow and red ; it's breaft and belly are of a dufky 
yellow hue; and there is a white fpace under it's 
bill. 
JACANU. A Brazilian bird of the moor-hen 
genus: it is about the fize of the pigeon, but it's 
legs are confiderably longer, and of a greenifh co- 
lour; and all it's toes, particularly the hinder one, 
are remarkably long. The back, belly, and 
wings, are an admixture of green and black; the 
neck and breaft are of the moft beautiful pavona- 
ceous colours ; the head is fmall, and covered with 
a torquoife-coloured membrane ; the beak is fhaped 
like that of the gallinaceous kind, partly greenifh 
and partly red; and the tail is extremely fiiort. 
This bird frequents marftiy places; and it's flefh is 
efteemed by the Brazilians. 
JACAPU, A bird of the merula kind, about 
the fize of the common blackbird. The whole 
upper part is of a deep black colour, except that 
the tips of the feathers which cover the rump are 
greyifh; the breaft is of a very fine red hue; and 
ihe tail is long and black. 
JACARE. A Brazilian animal of the croco- 
dile or alligator kind, not fpecifically differing 
from that formidable tribe. It has no tongue; 
the eyes are large, round, and very bright; the 
irides are blue; and the pupils are a fine black. 
The fore-legs are fliort and flender, the hind ones 
being longer and more robuft ; the fore-feet have 
each five toes, the hinder only four; and the farther 
half of the tail is furnifhed with a ftrong erect fin, 
which effentially affifts the creature in fivimming. 
_ JAC ARINI. A Brazilian bird of the fringella 
kind, nearly about the fize of the common gold- 
finch. The bill, which is pretty thick, is greyifh, 
of which colour alfo are the legs and feet; the body 
is wholly of a fine fiiining black hue like poliiked 
metal, refle6ling green and blue; and the under- 
fides of the wings are white. 
JACK. A provincial appellation for the pike. 
See Pike. 
JACK-DAW; the Corvus Monedula of Lin- 
nseus. This very common bird has a large head 
in proportion to it's body; the hind-part of the 
head is of a fine light grey colour; the breaft and 
belly are dufky inclining to cinereous; the body is 
black, flightly gloffed with blue; the feet and bill 
are black; and the claws are very ftrong and 
hooked. 
The Jack-Daw, which is docile and loqua- 
cious, breeds in fteeples, old caftles, and high cliffs; 
lays five or fix eggs ; and feeds on infedls, feeds, 
and grain. Indeed, lb very voracious is this bird, 
and fo thieviih in it's difpofition, that it generally 
carries off much more than it can devour. It is 
extremely injurious to farmers and gardeners, and 
therefore conftantly profcribed. In fome parts 
of England it is caught by the follov/ing device : 
A ftake, about five or fix feet in length, is firmly 
driven into the ground, and the point rendered lb 
fharp, that the Jack-Daw cannot reft on it. A hole, 
about three-quarters of an inch in diameter, is 
made in the ftake, within a foot of the top; through 
which a ftick, about eight inches long, is put: 
then a horfe-hair fpringe or noofe is fattened to ai 
thin hazel wand; and this is brought up to the 
place where the fhort ftick is fituated, and carried 
through the hole along with it, the remainder be- 
ing left open under that ftick. The other end of 
the hazel rod is put through a hole in the ftake 
near the ground, and faftened there. This being 
done, the ftake is planted among fuch food as 
Jack-Daws are generally fond of: the bird natu- 
rally endeavours to reft on it; but finding the point 
too fharp, he defcends to the little crofs ftick, 
which finking with the weight, the fpringe receives 
his leg, and holds him faft. 
JACK-SNIPE; the Scolopax Gallinula of 
LinnfEus. This bird is about half the fize of the 
common fnipe, and on that account has fometimes 
received the name of the Half-fnipe. The crown 
of the head is black, tinged with ferruginous; there 
is a yellow line over each eye; the neck is varie- 
gated with white, brown, and pale red ; the fcapu- 
lars are long, narrow, and brown, bordered v/ith 
yellow; the rump is of a gloffy blueifh purple hue; 
the belly and vent are white; the tail, which is 
brown edged with tawny> confift^ of iv/eive pointed 
feathcj's ; 
