XLVI. The _Ambua_, so the Natives of _Brazil_ call the _Millepedes_ and the _Centipedes_ Serpents. Those Reptiles of thousand Legs bend as they craul along, and are reckoned very poisonous. Those Lizards of hundred Legs are commonly found in the Woods, where they destroy the Fruit, and also do mischief both to Men and Cattle. In these _Multipedes_, the Mechanism of the Body is very curious; in their going, it is observable, that on each side of their Bodies, every Leg has its Motion, one regularly after another; so that their Legs, being numerous, form a kind of Undulation, and thereby communicate to the Body a swifter Progression than one could imagine, where so many short Feet are to take so many short Steps, that follow one another, rolling on, like the Waves of the Sea. The _Palmer-Worm_ is also called _Millepes_, because of its many Feet, which are as Bristles under its Body: It is about six Inches long, and moves with incredible Swiftness. The upper part of the Body is cover’d with hard swarthy Scales, and it has a sort of Claws both in its Head and Tail, of rank Poison, as the Historian says. XLVII. The _Jebeya_ is another _Brazilian_, and a Serpent very ravenous and destructive: It has four Legs, and a long Tail like a _Crocodile_; it lies flat and close on the Ground, artfully concealing itself, ’till the Prey comes within reach, and then darts out a couple of sharp Fins from its Fore-quarters, and kills whatever it strikes. XLVIII. The _Giraupiagara_ is an _American_ Serpent, so call’d, because of its being a great Devourer of Eggs. ’Tis of a Negro-Colour, but a yellow Breast, and of great Length and Agility. It glides (as if swimming) on the tops of Trees, faster than any Man can run on the Ground.[231] Footnote 231: _Nieuhoff in Atlas, America._ It lives upon Birds, whose Nests it constantly plunders. ’Tis observable, that the _Cuckow_ feeds very much upon _Eggs_, which accounts for the vulgar Notion, that it always has one or more little Birds, as Menials to attend it, these being some of those, whose Houses it plundered. There is another Charge preferred against the Cuckow, _viz._ The Contempt it puts upon our Vegetables, by spitting upon them; whereas in those Dobs of frothy Dew, we find little Green Insects, that are Grashoppers in the Embryo. XLIX. The _Caminana_ is another _Brazilian Serpent_, of a great length. The Body is all over green, and very beautiful in prospect. This also runs up the Trees, not so much because of the green Leaves, as in pursuit of Birds of all Colours; and having devoured the Contents of the Nest, seizes the Dam, and drinks her Blood.