ly, catching their prey more by stealth or chance than by agility: but when they fix themselves upon a tree, their length generally enables them to seize every thing they can manage that passes underneath; for they wind their tail part round some limb, and stretch the fore part downwards.

The Silver Snake of Jamaica, which is but rarely to be found,

the man perceiving, seized the opportunity, and instantly cut off its head. The body of the snake, after some time, relaxed its hold, and the man, who had been detained a prisoner, was set at liberty. He related that his situation was such, that he could not long have survived, without being rescued from his imprisonment. Sloane conceives that the circulation of the blood was stopped by the twisting of the snake: and by this means we may easily conceive that it might destroy any animal which it could encircle within its folds.

They in general nestle about old cabbage trees, hollow stumps, &c. If the places of their retreat are explored, and cleft with an axe or other instru ment, as soon as light enters they thrust out their heads, and are soon dispatched.

But since these reptiles are the avowed enemies of the rats, which are so destructive to the sugar-canes, the planters are not solicitous to destroy the race. Interest, which associates with man in general, and interweaves itself with the majority of his actions, affords protection to the most noxious reptiles. It is, perhaps, extremely difficult to say in what region we shall fix its bounds, though I am by no means an advocate for its universal application. But the real Christian alone is an exception.

Noxious, however, as these reptiles are, they are not destitute of sagacity: and they are capable of acquiring docility, since they may be tamed. “I had one of this kind (says Sloane) tamed by an Indian for ine: it would follow the Indian as a dog would his master."

A snake thus domesticated by an Indian was given to Sir Hans Sloane; which, together with a guana and an alligator, he designed to bring with him into England; but unfortunately he failed in respect to them all. The snake was preserved in a large jar, the mouth of which was covered over with boards, and these boards secured with weights. It was fed every day with the entrails of fowls, and such other articles as the kitchen produced, and seemed for some time highly pleased with its situation. Confinement at length grew irksome, and the snake (which was about seven feet in length) forced aside the boards which covered the jar, and obtained its freedom. It then got ta the top of a large house, the inhabitants of which, not liking such company, shot it dead.

The guana was put on board, and lived at large for some time; till one day, as it was running over the gunwale of the vessel, it was frightened by one of the seamen, jumped overboard, and was drowned.

The alligator continued some time longer, but did not live to reach the port of its destination. It embarked on the 16th of March, 1688, and was confined in a large tub filled with salt water, and was fed with nearly the same food that had been given to the snake. It continued from that time to the 14th of May following, when, without any particular accident, it died.

For the substance of this note I am indebted to Sir Hans Sloane. The par ticulars have been collected from different pages of his work, and in several parts inserted in his own language. The materials may be found in vol. ii pages 335, 336, and 946.

is remarkably small, when compared to the yellow snake which we have just described. It seldom exceeds sixteen inches in length, is larger in proportion to its length, and is generally found in the hollow parts of decayed trees. One thing remarkable in the silver snake is, that the anus is placed so near the mouth, that it has sometimes been taken for it. They are generally considered as extremely venomous, though specific instances of their poison have rarely occurred.

The large Black Snake, more active and slender than either of the foregoing, is also an inhabitant of Jamaica. It is about twelve feet in length, and towards the tail is more tapering than even the yellow snake. In common with all others of a similar species, it is deemed poisonous; but it seems to be a character unsupported by proof.

The small Black Snake differs from the former by its size, its slender make, and its extreme activity. It rarely exceeds three feet in length, and is thought by many to be exceedingly venomous, though no mischief was ever known to be done by it. These serpents are plentiful in most of the islands, and are not easily intimidated. They frequently erect themselves on the hinder part of their bodies, and assume in moments of danger very formidable attitudes; and this circumstance probably has procured for them that character which they have not otherwise merited.

The Alligator or Crocodile is of the lizard species, though differing from the general tribe in many essential particulars; as, first, with respect to its size, which is monstrous, being from fourteen to twenty-four feet in length. It moves very slowly on the ground, and generally seeks its prey in the water; but when any small animals come in its way on land, within reach, it seizes them eagerly, and soon destroys them. This creature has a strong musky scent, by which it is frequently discovered at a distance; and its eyes are like those of the cat and shark. The alligator has been observed to live for many months without any visible sustenance; which experiment has been frequently tried at Jamaica, by tying their jaws with wire, and putting them, thus tied up, into a pond, well, or water-tub, where they live for a considerable time; but often rise to the surface to take breath. Though the shape of the body is like the lizard, it differs in having the whole surface covered over in appearance like a tortoise; but the skin may be more properly said to be hardened into a horny substance from space to space, than to be furnished with real scales. The tail is oblong, pointed, and nearly quadrilateral. These creatures lay their eggs in the sand: the eggs are somewhat larger than those of

a goose, and, as they are pretty transparent, readily shew us the first formation and growth of the animal.*

The next species of lizards is the Great Lizard, called also the Guana. It has a long, forked, muscular tongue, divided toes, and a scaly skin: it lives a considerable time without food, and changes its colour with the weather, or the moisture of its place of residence. It is supposed to live upon imperceptible particles, lapped up in the air; for it is observed frequently to throw out its forked tongue like the chameleon,† as it walks along; and is never seen to touch any thing on the ground.

The flesh of this creature is relished by many people, served up in fricassees at table, and thus prepared is preferred by many to the best fowls. Father Labat corroborates this use of this species of the lizard as a delicious food, for which purpose the negroes in the French islands are employed to catch them. This is accomplished in the following manner: the negro car ries with him into the fields a long rod, at one end of which

The Scorpion of the West Indies is too conspicuous among the enemies of mankind to be entirely omitted in this brief description. The scorpion is a native of many regions, and it is generally said that in cold countries it loses its venom. In most of the sugar plantations it is well known; but its chief places of residence are in dry uninhabited houses, and decayed buildings. It is a creature which seems destitute of fear, and is at once vigilant and dar ing. When threatened with approaching danger, instead of attempting to retreat, it assumes an undaunted resolution, and puts itself in a posture of defence. Its sting is in its tail, which it erects, darts forward, and exposes in every gesture of defiance. When any animal approaches within its reach, it is seized with the utmost avidity; and the sting, which is accompanied with malignant poison, is darted into the creature with very great virulence. The wound inflicted by the sting, and contaminated by poison, is extremely pain ful; and those parts which lie contiguous soon put on a livid appearance. The utmost care must be taken, in dressing the wounded part, to prevent the poisonous matter from spreading, and to preserve the patient from falling by a mortification. The scorpion has some distant resemblance to a lobster.

The Chameleon may also be reckon el among the residents of Jamaica, and is certainly of the lizard tribe. It is a native of the castern continent, and was originally imported into this island from the coast of Guinea. The head is disproportionably large, the jaws well stored with teeth, and the sockets of the eyes deeply sunk in the head. It has four feet, and on each foot the toes or claws are disposed somewhat like those of a parrot. It chiefly resides in the woods, and frequently takes its station on the slender branches of trees, on which it sustains itself with the greatest steadiness. In its movements it is extremely slow, though it is supported by preying upon the most active of the insect tribe. But though its motions are tardy, they are performed with so much ease and address, that its approaches are rarely suspected by the devoted prey. Advanced within a certain distance, it poizes its body as occasion may require, and uncoiling its long slender tongue, darts with inconceivable swiftness, and rarely fails to seize its prey. Another surprising circumstance, which tends to facilitate its success, is, that it changes its colour with its station, and by put ting on the complexion of every twig and branch over which it passes, exhi bits one of the most astonishing phenomena in nature.

These lizards are

is a piece of whipcord with a running noose. generally found basking in the sun on the dry limb of a tree. The negro whistles as loudly as he can, to which the guana appears to be very attentive, and with which he seems to be highly pleased; for he stretches out his neck and turns his head, as if to enjoy the notes more completely. The negro then approaches, still whistling; and, extending his rod softly, begins tickling him with the end of it in the side and under the throat, which delights him so much that he turns on his back, stretches himself out at length like a cat before a good fire, and at length falls fast asleep. The negro then dexterously passes the noose over his neck, draws it tight, and thus secures him. These creatures are easily tamed, and will live in a house, lying upon a bed or sopha, quite indolent in the day-time; and may be permitted constantly to go out at night. But they lose their fat by being thus kept; and, dwindling away, are no longer fit for eating.*

The Galley Whasp is another of the lizard tribe, and sometimes exceeds two feet in length. It is an inhabitant of the woods, and of low marshy places. It is generally of a dirty colour, occasionally interspersed with stripes of a lighter or of a darker hue, and incidentally changes to a fine yellow, resembling gold. It is generally considered as by far the most venomous reptile that Jamaica produces, on which account it is both hated and dreaded. It is said, that its bite is always mortal, whether applied to man or beast; and no specific has hitherto been discovered sufficiently efficacious to counteract the malignity of its poison. But whether this be fact or not, I will not vouch. Its teeth are short, even, and immoveable; and no apertures are discovered in any, through which it can emit its poison. If it be of that venomous nature which is generally represented, it is more than probable that the poison it communicates must lie in its saliva, which immediately enters through the wound that the tooth inflicts. It has, indeed, been said, that none of the reptile tribe are really venomous, and that the bite of none is mortal in any of the West India Islands. This assertion may be founded upon fact; but it would be with the utmost reluctance that I should be induced to make the experiment.

Innumerable are the tribes of fishes that are found in the seas surrounding the West India Islands, and in the inland rivers, the names and proper descriptions of which would fill a moderate volume. Great varieties, and abundance of different

VOL. I.

See P. Labat, tom. iii. p. 315.
3 C

species, are brought to the markets of Jamaica; but very few are to be distinguished as known to that island alone; we shall, therefore, only notice those which are most remarkable there.

The Trumpeter, or Trumpet Fish, is frequently in the harbours in the months of June and July, and is generally about eighteen inches in length. The Anchovy, or small Silver Fish, about three inches in length, is very common in the harbours of Jamaica. It is very delicate, and in great esteem with most lovers of fish: it is generally eaten fried, and likewise pickled, and then is not inferior to the anchovy of Italy.

The Dolphin also is a native of most parts of the American seas, especially of those which lie in warm latitudes. This fish is remarkably voracious, and the avowed enemy of the flying-fish. Sloane observes, that "they are the swiftest swimmers that are, their bodies being contrived for that purpose. They pursue the flying-fish with avidity, till the latter get out of the water where the dolphins cannot reach. They love (continues Sloane) the company of ships, because of what scraps are now and then thrown overboard. I have been assured by some who have sailed in Guinea ships, that they have had the same shoal of dolphins follow them for many hundreds of leagues, between Guinea and Barbadoes. The dolphin is good for food, but is remarkably dry; and though much prized by voyagers, yet were it on shore in a market where other fish are to be had, it would be esteemed no great delicacy." "One thing very remarkable in this fish is, the various colours it puts on before it dies, being usually yellow with ranges or rows of small blue and round spots, which strangely change, and afford that pleasure to the eye, that I confess I never saw any thing of this nature so surprising. But after all it comes to a very light blue colour when dead, which it keeps ever after." Sloane, vol. i, page 21,

Another is the Old Wife. This fish is very much liked in America, but must be skinned before it is dressed. It is served up either boiled or stewed, and makes a very agreeable dish either way. The body is generally about twenty inches or more in length, and nine over.

Another species are called the Cuckold Fish. They are very rich food, and, when well stuffed and baked, excel all other sorts of fish in America.

The great Sea Devil is a fishy monster, very large, weighing commonly from 100 to 3000 pounds. It is very frequent in the harbour of Kingston, but is not good for food. Mullets, eels, perch, and many others of the sea-fish usually brought to the London markets, are likewise common in Jamaica,