To these I might add the _Wasps_, that have their Winter-Treasures in subterranean Cells, and the Field-mice that know the proper Season to gather Acorns, which they carefully hide in hollow Places, (as Mole-runs) in the Earth. Thus we see no Creatures so mean in our View, but a Ray of divine Wisdom shines in their Foresight and Contrivance: When we consider how wonderfully these inferior Creatures are conducted in their Operations, how punctually they obey the Laws of their Creator, how solicitously every one propagates his Kind, and makes proper Provisions for his Family; it looks as if it were done by some Principle that’s more perfect than the common Reason of Man. Nevertheless ’tis past doubt, that Brutes of the highest Order, and most refin’d, are but Brutes, _i. e._ irrational, and it’s well for us they are so. This is call’d _Instinct_, a natural Disposition, or Sagacity wherewith Animals are endued; by virtue whereof they are enabled to provide for themselves, know what is good for them, and are determin’d to propagate and preserve their Species. _Instinct_ bears some Analogy to Reason or Understanding, and supplies the Defect of it in Brutes. The Narrative of _Eve_’s Temptation begins with affirming, _The Serpent was more subtle than any Beast of the Field_. And _Christ_ recommends the Wisdom of the Serpent, but not without the Innocence of the Dove. The Proofs of its Subtilty are not so obvious; some produce such as these, telling us, that the Serpent _Cerastes_ hides itself in the Sand, with a view to bite the Horse’s Foot that he might throw the Rider. _Jacob_ seems to allude to this, in the Blessing he gave to _Dan_, of whom ’tis said, _Dan shall be a Serpent by the Way, an Adder in the Path, that bites the Horse’s Heels, so that his Rider shall fall backward_. Gen. xlix. 17. But more in Part third. ---------------------------------------------------------------- SECTION III. Serpents are supposed to have many Enemies, besides Man, as the _Eagle_, _Hawk_, _Stork_, _Ibis_, _Ichneumon_, _Magaure_, _&c._ I shall only touch upon some of these: _Ibis_ is a Bird of _Egypt_, and a faithful Ally in the War against Serpents; vast Numbers of winged Serpents are annually bred in _Arabia_, from whence, at certain Seasons, Swarms of them take their flight across the _Red-Sea_ into _Egypt_: Upon the first notice of their Arrival, the _Ibidian_ Birds assemble in Troops, and immediately fly upon the Invaders, and soon destroy them. In the same manner they execute Vengeance upon the Serpents of _Ethiopia_, when they molest the Land[11]. Footnote 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.