[11]. Conradus Gesn. p. 55. Ray. Gyllius.

The Storks destroy all Serpents that fall in their way, and are so greatly regarded in Thessaly for this kind office, that it is counted a capital Crime to kill a Stork, and the Criminal is punished as in the case of Man-slaughter.

[[12]]The Stork’s Bill is very long and sharp, with which it makes a rattling kind of Noise: It is said, the Chirurgeons have learn’d the Clysterick Art from these Birds.

[12]. Pliny’s Nat. Hist. Tom. i. B. 10.

The Storks also are esteemed the Clergy’s Friends, for the Author of the Book of Nature says, they will not inhabit any City in Germany, where no Tythes are paid to the Priest. An Orthodox Brood of Birds!

When Moses conducted the Egyptian Army against the Ethiopians, he was to pass through a Country full of Serpents, and to secure his Forces from them in their March, he carried with him several of these Ibidian Birds, before whose Fury they fell or fled[[13]].

[13]. Josephus, B. ii. Cap. v. p. 65.

ICHNEUMON is a little Animal of bold Spirit, and a great Destroyer of Serpents, and therefore the Egyptians keep it in their Houses, as we do Cats; and the young ones are commonly sold for that end at Alexandria. In form it resembles an overgrown Rat, and is called the Indian-Rat, and Pharaoh’s Rat; and by its mighty Atchievements, it must be of some considerable Bulk; for in its Encounters with great Dogs, Crocodiles, Serpents, &c. it generally comes off victorious: Upon their Approach it bunches up, and bristles up its Hair, in token of Defiance: It couches on the Ground, and leaps like a Bull-dog at its Prey.

By some it is call’d the Egyptian Otter; ’tis of a dun Colour, has round Ears, black Legs, and long Tail: It cannot endure the Wind, and runs for Shelter, when it rises, sometimes thrusting its Head between its hinder Legs, in a round Form like a Hedge-hog.

Those who have examined into Kites Nests, have found Vipers in them, which are supposed to be Food for their young ones. In China is a little Creature like a Weezel, called Magaure, that is a mortal Enemy to Serpents, which it kills by striking its Teeth into their Heads. The Chameleon trembles at the Sight of this little Furioso[[14]]; whose Ears are short and round, its Nose like that of a Ferret, its Tongue and Teeth like a Cat, which is a Creature it destroys in a Minute, though not the easiest to be killed. The Argoli Serpents in India destroy Asps; therefore by Alexander the Great’s Command, they were transported to Alexandria[[15]].