N. B. This seems to carry some Probability with it, since Eagles are voracious Creatures, and very destructive to Fawns and Lambs, especially the black Eagle, which is of a lesser Size than the other.
In some of the Scots Islands, the Natives observe, that this Eagle fixes its Talons between the Deer’s Horns, and beats its Wings constantly about its Eyes; several other Eagles flying at the same time on both sides, which puts the Deer upon a continual Run, till it fall into a Pit, or down a Precipice, where it dies, and so becomes a Prey to the Enemy[[304]].
[304]. Martin’s Description of the Western Islands of Scotland, Edit. ii. p. 7.
CXXXII. In some of the Western Islands of Scotland are several Serpents: There is one that is yellow with brown Spots, and another with brown Spots; but that which is the most poisonous, is the black and white spotted, three or four Foot long.
The Remedies are such as these: The Natives cut off the Head of the Serpent that gives the Wound, and apply it to the Place as the best Remedy: Others, by the Application of new Cheese, extract the Poison; and some make use of the Rump of a Cock stript of its Feathers, which they apply to the Wound with Success, according to the Historian[[305]].
[305]. Martin’s Description of the Isle of Skie, &c. p. 236.
In the Library at Manchester, is the Skin of a Serpent which was five Yards long, as thick as the Calf of a Man’s Leg; has a forked Tongue, scaly Skin, yellow Colour.
CXXXIII. MARTINIUS in his Atlas relates, that in the Province of Quangsi in China, there are Serpents thirty Foot long. The Flora Sinensis reports of the Serpent call’d Geuto, that it devours whole Stags, but is not very venemous. ’Tis of an ash Colour, from eighteen to twenty-four Foot long; will often seize on a Man, by leaping from a Tree, and kill him, by its violent windings about him.—The Chinese preserve his Gall to cure the Diseases of the Eyes.—Marcus Paulus Venetus testifies the same of the Serpents of Carrajam.—Some are in length ten Paces, in thickness ten Palms, and able to swallow a Man. Are taken thus: The Serpent in the Day lies in Caves of Mountains; in the Night hunts for Prey, and then returns to its Cave, with the weight of its Body, plowing deep the Earth, being sandy in the Track it goes along: Here the Huntsmen fix strong Stakes pointed with Iron, covered with Sand; and as the Serpent travels along, the Spikes gore its Entrails, and are fasten’d therein, by which ’tis kill’d; and the Huntsmen sell the Gall at a great Price for Medicine, and the Flesh for Meat. These, continues he, may be reckon’d among Dragons, but are without Poison: Instead of Feet, they have Claws like those of a Lion or Falcon.—There are other Serpents in China full of rank Poison, especially the hairy-headed Serpent. So far Martin.
N. B. This Province of Quamsi or Quangsi is able to raise a Million of fighting Men. It is not so much frequented as the Province of Quantung or Canton, where they have two Harvests a year. One says, there is a Mountain here with a Pool in it, which makes a Noise like Thunder, if a Stone be cast into it, and causes Showers from the Sky[[306]]. Their Winter is warm, and their Fields always verdant, producing great Quantities of Gold, Pearl, Silk, Copper, Steel, Iron, Salt,—and odoriferous Woods.—They hatch their Ducks Eggs and those of other Fowls in Ovens, or Dunghills.
[306]. Pancirollus.