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LXXIV. Obfervations on noxious Animals in 
England ; by the Rev . Richard Forfter,, 
RL A. ReElor of Shefford in Bucks. 
Read March ii, s “1 Raunt, in his obfervations upon 
1762. ^ j t he London bills of mortality, 
tells us, that we have “ an abhorrence of toads and 
«< fnakes, as rnoft poifonous creatures, whereas few 
te men dare fay, upon their own knowledge, they ever 
« found harm by either.” This was publifhed near 
a century ago ; and as this century may be properly 
called the age of experiments, it is a wonder, that 
fome fair trials have not been made, to afcertain what 
animals are really noxious. I need not enumerate 
the good eftedts, that would attend fuch an examina- 
tion, as that it would tend to take oft that abhorrence, 
mentioned by Graunt, whereby the boldeft. man 
fhrinks, upon coming too near one of thefe animals;, 
as alfo, that it would fave the lives of numberlefs in- 
nocent, perhaps ufeful creatures. 
The viper and flow-worm are, as far as I' know, 
held to be poifonous by every body. The viper there 
can be no difpute about. As to the flow-worm, I. 
have had two fair trials, to conclude, that his bite is- 
quite harmlefs. The following is an exadt detail of. 
the circumftances. In June 1751* ^ a won } an ’- 
Jane Seymour,, of this place, helming of ftraw, 1. e;. 
laying it ftraight, for the thatcher. It was about eleven; 
o’clock in the forenoon, and the weather extremely, 
hot, when the poifon of all animals is reputed:ftrongeft.. 
The woman . fqual led out, all of a fudden; that 
add.err 
