66 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
feed indifferently on fruit, flesh, and insects. They are so fond of the juice of the 
palm tree, that they sometimes intoxicate themselves with it, so as to fall to the 
ground. Their horrid shrieks are heard, during the night, in the forests, at the dis¬ 
tance of two miles, but they retire at the approach of day. Nothing is safe from 
the ravages of these destructive creatures ; they equally destroy the wild and domes¬ 
tic birds, whenever they have an opportunity; and they will sometimes attack the 
human kind, by seizing and tearing the visage. It is very probable, as M. de Buffon 
has observed, that the ancients borrowed their idea of the harpies, from these ter¬ 
rible animals. The Indians consider them as a palatable article of food, particularly 
in certain seasons of the year, when they are full of fat: and even some of the. 
French people, both in this island and the isle of Bourbon, have brought themselves, 
in this particular, to follow the Indian example. The NegrpeSj however, hold them 
in the greatest horror ; and no consideration whatever could induce them to have 
any other concern with these noxious creatures, but to destroy them; for which 
purpose they employ uncommon dexterity. It has often happened, that persons 
have been attacked, while asleep, and bled to death by them, as they are powerful 
and subtle bloodsuckers; so that it is really dangerous to slumber in the open air, or 
to let them enter into an house during the night. 
There is a kind of hawk, called the Chicken eater, which is said to feed on grass¬ 
hoppers. It dwells on the sea shore, and discovers no appearance of alarm at the 
sight of man. 
Formerly there was great plenty of turtles on this coast; but at present they are 
very much diminished. 
The sea shore is full of holes, which are inhabited by great numbers of Tourlou- 
roux , which are a kind of amphibious crab, that dig under the earth like a mole. 
They run very fast, and when they are in danger of being taken, present the points 
of their claws, with which they make a kina of ringing noise. They are of no use 
whatever. 
Another very singular amphibious animal, is the Bernard I’hermite (Cancer 
Bernhardus, Linn.)> a kind of lobster, whose hinder part is.without a shell; but 
nature has instinctively taught it to lodge; that part in any empty shell it can find. 
They are seen running about in great numbers, each of them carrying its borrowed 
house, which when incommodious, from its being too small, it changes, as oppor¬ 
tunity serves, for one that is more capacious. 
