* * * * * _Some Observations of swarms of strange Insects, and the Mischiefs done by them._ A great Observer, who hath lived long in _New England_, did upon occasion, relate to a Friend of his in _London_, where he lately was, That some few Years since there was such a swarm of a certain sort of Insects in that _English_ Colony, that for the space of of 200 Miles they poyson'd and destroyed all the Trees of that Country; there being found innumerable little holes in the ground, out of which those Insects broke forth in the form of _Maggots_, which turned into _Flyes_ that had a kind of taile or sting, which they struck into the Tree, and thereby envenomed and killed it. The like Plague is said to happen frequently in the Country of the _Cosacks_ or _Ukrani_, where in dry Summers they are infested with such swarms of _Locusts_, driven thither by an _East_, or _South-East_ Wind, that they darken the Air in the fairest weather, and devour all the Corn of that Country; laying their Eggs in _Autumn_, and then dying; but the Eggs, of which every one layeth two or three hundred, hatching the next Spring, produce again such a number of Locusts, that then they do far more mischief than afore, unless Rains do fall, which kill both Eggs and the Insects themselves, or unless a strong _North_ or _North-West_ Wind arise, which drives them into the _Euxin_ Sea: The Hogs of that Country loving these Eggs, devour also great quantities of them, and thereby help to purge the Land of them; which is often so molested by this Vermine, that they enter into their Houses and Beds, fall upon their Tables and into their Meat, insomuch that they can hardly eat without taking down some of them; in the Night when they repose themselves upon the ground, they cover it three, or four Inches thick, and if a Wheel pass {138} over them, they emit a stench hardly to be endured: All which, and much more may be fully seen in the _French_ Description of the Countries of _Poland_, made by _Monsieur de Beauplan_, and by _Monsieur Thevenot_, in his Relation of the _Cosacks_, contained in the First part of his _Curious Voyages_. * * * * * _An Observation touching the Bodies of Snakes and Vipers._ Several have taken notice, that there is a difference between the brooding of Snakes and Vipers, those laying their Eggs in Dung-hills, by whose warmth they are hatched; but these (Vipers) brooding their Eggs within their Bellies, and bringing forth live Vipers. To which may be added, That some affirm to have seen Snakes lye upon their Eggs, as Hens sit upon theirs. * * * * * _Some Observations of odde Constitutions of Bodies._ A very curious Person, studying Physick at _Leyden_, to whom had been imparted those Relations about a Milky Substance in Veins, heretofore alledged in _Numb._ 6. returns, by way of gratitude, the following Observations.