[48] Amiantus (Asbestus) fibrosus, fibris separabilibus flexilibus tenacibus, Linn. Syst. nat. p. 55.
Amiantus fibris mollibus parallelis facile separabilibus, Wall. Min. 140.
Mountain Flax, Linum montanum, Forster’s Mineralogy, p. 17. F. [↑]
[49] It has been observed, that only such squirrels and birds as have their nests near the place where such snakes come to, make this pitiful noise, and are so busy in running up and down the tree and the neighbouring branches, in order to draw off the attention of the snake from their brood, and often they come so very near in order to fly away again, that being within reach of the snakes, they are at last bit, poisoned and devoured; and this will, I believe, perfectly account for the powers of fascinating birds and small creatures in the snakes. F. [↑]
[50] As Catesby and Edwards have both represented the flying Squirrel in a sitting attitude, I have given here, plate I. a figure of one with the expanded membrane, and joined to it on the same plate, a more accurate figure of the ground Squirrel.
It is not yet made out with certainty, whether the American flying squirrel, and that found in Finland and in the north of Europe and Asia, be the same animal. The American kind has a flat pennated tail, but the European kind a round one, which affords a very distinguishing character. F. [↑]
[51] See for this opinion the scarce and curious work intitled, Torfæi historia Vinlandiæ antiquæ seu partis Americæ septentrionalis. Hafniæ 1715. 4to. F. [↑]
[52] This experiment with the silver, supposes that the broth of the fish would be so strong as to act as a solvent upon the silver; but there may be poisons, which would not affect the silver, and however prove fatal to men; the surest way therefore would be to suppress that appetite, which may become fatal not only to a few men of the crew, but also endanger the whole ship, by the loss of necessary hands. F. [↑]
ADVERTISEMENT.
The whole Sheet Map of a great Part of North America, intended for the Illustration of these Travels, could not be got ready in Time for the first Volume, on Account of its Size and the great many Names of Places brought into it, which must give it a Superiority above any Map hitherto published of this Part of the World: but the Translator hopes, the Public will the more readily excuse this Omission, as it will greatly tend to make the Map more perfect, and as the second Volume will soon appear, where it shall undoubtedly be inserted.