[12]The Stork’s Bill is very long and sharp, with which it makes a rattling kind of Noise: It is said, the Chirurgeons have learn’d the Clysterick Art from these Birds. Footnote 12: _Pliny’s Nat. Hist._ Tom. i. B. 10. The _Storks_ also are esteemed the Clergy’s Friends, for the Author of the _Book of Nature_ says, they will not inhabit any City in _Germany_, where no Tythes are paid to the Priest. An Orthodox Brood of Birds! When _Moses_ conducted the _Egyptian_ Army against the _Ethiopians_, he was to pass through a Country full of Serpents, and to secure his Forces from them in their March, he carried with him several of these _Ibidian_ Birds, before whose Fury they fell or fled[13]. Footnote 13: _Josephus_, B. ii. Cap. v. p. 65. _ICHNEUMON_ is a little Animal of bold Spirit, and a great Destroyer of Serpents, and therefore the _Egyptians_ keep it in their Houses, as we do Cats; and the young ones are commonly sold for that end at _Alexandria_. In form it resembles an overgrown Rat, and is called the _Indian-Rat_, and _Pharaoh’s Rat_; and by its mighty Atchievements, it must be of some considerable Bulk; for in its Encounters with great Dogs, Crocodiles, Serpents, _&c._ it generally comes off victorious: Upon their Approach it bunches up, and bristles up its Hair, in token of Defiance: It couches on the Ground, and leaps like a Bull-dog at its Prey. By some it is call’d the _Egyptian Otter_; ’tis of a dun Colour, has round Ears, black Legs, and long Tail: It cannot endure the Wind, and runs for Shelter, when it rises, sometimes thrusting its Head between its hinder Legs, in a round Form like a Hedge-hog. Those who have examined into Kites Nests, have found Vipers in them, which are supposed to be Food for their young ones. In _China_ is a little Creature like a Weezel, called _Magaure_, that is a mortal Enemy to Serpents, which it kills by striking its Teeth into their Heads. The _Chameleon_ trembles at the Sight of this little Furioso[14]; whose Ears are short and round, its Nose like that of a Ferret, its Tongue and Teeth like a Cat, which is a Creature it destroys in a Minute, though not the easiest to be killed. The _Argoli Serpents_ in _India_ destroy Asps; therefore by _Alexander_ the Great’s Command, they were transported to _Alexandria_[15]. Footnote 14: _L. Le Comte’s Memoirs_, p. 504. Footnote 15: _Johnstonus_, p. 16. Whether the Serpent hates Man more than other Creatures, is with me a question; be that as it will, it is wonderful to think, that notwithstanding Man’s and other Creatures invincible Hatred of Serpents, yet hitherto they have been able to support themselves in a State of War against all the World.