The GREAT SHELL'D HEDGHOG. By the Natives of Brasile, called TATU; By the Spaniards, ARMADILLO; as Names common to the several species. And by Latin Authors, Echinus Brasiliensis. This once belonged to the Duke of Holstein. See the Description of this Species in Clusius, and others.

Those Creatures which are cover'd with Feathers, Scales, or Shell, saith Aristotle, (e) (e) Histor. Anim. lib. 1. c. 11. have no Auricula or outward Ear. So that he never saw this Animal; nor many others now known, and some which he ventures to describe; as appears by those general Assertions, whereof he is too often guilty.

He gathers himself up, Head, Feet and Tail, within his Shell, as round as a ball: as Piso hath also pictur'd him. (f) (f) Hist. l. 3. 8. 3. And this he doth, not only when pursued, but also when he sleeps. Unless he be ty'd, he will dig out his way under the very walls of a house. (g) (g) Mus. Septal. For it is his nature to dig himself Buries, as the Coney doth; which he doth with very great celerity. (h)(h) Clusius.

For the tenderness, whiteness and delicacy of his Flesh, he is reserved for Feasts; (i) (i) Barlæus de Rebus Bras. p. 222. and therein prefer'd before either Conies or sucking-Pigs. (a) (a) Guil. Piso. The Plates of his Shell being powder'd and given in a draught of the Decoction of Sage in the quantity of ʒj, provoketh sweat; and are a singular remedy against the Lues Venerea, saith Barlæus. (b) (b) P. 369. out of Franc. Ximines. If it provoketh sweat, it may be used to good purposes, whether it cureth that Disease, or no.

The PIGHEADED ARMADILLO. Tatu Porcinus. Nierembergius hath described this Species, but yet imperfectly. The best of any Wormius; who also omiteth some particulars, and in others is mistaken.

From his Snout-end to his Tail, about ten Inches and ½; being younger and lesser than that of Wormius. His Body four Inches over. His Head an Inch and ¼, and three Inches long. The end of his Nose scarce half an Inch over, shaped like that of a Pig; from whence I have taken leave to name it. His Ears not above ¼ of an Inch distant one from the other. His fore-foot two Inches and ½ long, above ½ Inch over. On which he hath four Toes; the two foremost of which are an Inch long, the other two ½ an Inch. The hinder-foot of equal length, but thicker. On which there are five Toes; the three foremost, and thickest whereof are an Inch long, the other two ½ an Inch. His Tail about 11 Inches long, at the Buttocks an Inch and ¼ over, at the end as small as a Shoomakers Shoemaker's waxed Thread.

His Head, Back, Sides, Legs, and Tail, are all cover'd with a shelly Armour. His Head, with Shells, Scales for the most part, five and six angled. His Shoulders, with round ones, and lesser, about ¼ of an Inch over; betwixt which other lesser ones are interjected. The Back-piece consisteth of about ten shell Plates, joyned together by the mediation of as many parallel Skins. Every Plate is about ½ Inch broad, curiously composed of small triangular or wedgelike pieces, indented one against another, and pounced or pricked all along their edges. His Buttocks adorned in the same manner as his Shoulders. His Shell ending next his Tail, with an Elipsis. The fore-part of his Tail is encompass'd with shelly Rings, in number eleven; composed not of triangular, but sixangl'd and square pieces. The other half with Scales set together, as on his Head. His nether Buttocks, Belly, Breast, Neck, and Ears are all naked. His Eyes black, round, and very little; resembling a black Bead of the bigness of a Vetch. His Grinders in each Chap about twelve. More properly Tunsores; because they are level and smooth on the top. No thicker than a great Needle. Besides these Teeth, I find none.

By the help of the aforesaid Plates, and parallel Skins together with the Muscules that lie under them, this Animal is able, like the Hedge-Hog, to gether up himself into a round ball. For the better performance of which action, Nature hath also left his ThroathThroat, Neck, Breast and Belly naked. As also his Ears, that he may turn them more expeditely for the reception of sounds from every quarter. His Eyes, like those of a Mole, very little, as most suitable to a Creature living for the most part in the dark, and under ground. His hinder feet, like a Conies, more strong, for the better working of his Buries.

Piso (a) (a) Hist. l. 3. S. 3. maketh the action of conglobation peculiar to this species, but very falslyfalsely, as will appear by the following Description.

The SKULL of the HORNED HOG. By the people of the Island Bouro, not far from Amboina, he is called Baby Roussa. (c)(c) Barthol. Hist. Cent. 2. See the Picture hereof in Bartholine, (d) taken in Java, from whence he received it. As also the (d) Ibid. 2.Description, though but imperfect. See likewise Guilielmus Piso, (e) (e) In Boutius's Hist. N. Ind. Orient. l. 5. c. 9. who gives a figure somewhat different, making him slenderer and shaped in Body like to a Deer. But his Description seems to be taken out of Bartholine. His principal Characters are these, About as big as a Stag, snouted and tailed like a Boar, footed like a Goat: besides what is observable in the skull, which I shall now particularly describe.

It is a foot long, seven Inches high, and about five over. The Snout scarce two. The Teeth are 32. In the upper Jaw, four Cuters; in the nether, six. In each Jaw, ten Grinders. In the lower Jaw, two Tusks, one on each side, like those of a Boar, standing outerly, an inch behind the Cuters; near their Root, ¾ of an inch over, sharp-pointed, hooked very much backward; by the bow, four inches long.

The SKIN of a young RHINOCEROS, composed indifferently to the shape of the Animal. In the Description whereof Jacobus Bontius (b) (b) Histor. Nat. Ind. Orient. comes the nearest to the truth. Yet is he very short and defective. To whose therefore, as far as may be by this Skin, I shall add a better.

'Tis a yard long, and almost a foot over; his head nine inches long, almost eight over at the top. His Snout broadish, as in a Calf. His Eyes little, as those of a Hog, about ¼ of an inch long. They stand low, not much more than three inches above his Nose end. His Ears also like a Hogs. His Legs, as of the Hippopotamus, rateably short; about ten inches long. His Tail, five and ½; flat, as that of the Castor; but not so broad, near the Buttocks an inch and ½, at the end ½ an inch.

The said Skin is every where thick, and very hard; excepting only his Ears which are softer, and extream thin. It hath about ten Plicæ or Folds; two under the nether Jaw, one on the Breast, in the figure of the letter V, on the Neck one on each side, one between the Shoulders semicircular, on the Back two transversly extended to the bottom of the sides, with two more strait ones, carry'd obliquely on the Buttocks.

The lower part of the Forehead and Snout cover'd with a kind of hard Crust. His Ears naked and smooth. All the other parts rough with round scaly Crusts; on the Back, Sides, and Belly, lesser, near a ¼ of an inch over; on the nether Chap and Shoulders, bigger; on his Buttocks and Legs, the biggest, about ½ an inch over. His Hair is black, short, and fine. So few, that there are not many more than scales or shells; growing for the most part, out of the centre of the shell; so that he is almost naked. His Dock is also naked on both sides, but on the edges there grows a considerable quantity of longer and thicker Hair. The Animal being very young, had no Horn, nor so much as any sign of it.

The SKELETON of a CROCODILE. Given by Sir Robert Southwell; to whom it was sent from the East-Indies. 'Tis about four yards and three quarters long. The Head about two feet. The Neck, from the hinder part of the Head, almost a foot and ½. The Trunk, from the fore-Ribs to the Tail, four feet. The Tail, seven. From the top of the Back to the Breast, a foot and ½ high.

The Orbites of the Eyes proportionably little; what ever Piso saith of his great Eyes.

The Articulations of the lower Jaw with the upper; and of the Occiput with the foremost Vertebra of the Neck; are here both made in the same manner, as in other Quadru peds: notwithstanding the Tradition of his moving the upper Jaw.

The Teeth are about threescore, thirty in each Jaw. All of them Claviculares, or Peg-Teeth, not much unlike the Tusks of a Mastiff; and scarce bigger: notwithstanding that Aristotle calls them great Teeth, οδοντας μεγαλδς. (a)(a) Hist. An. l. 2. c. 10. And yet, whereas a Dog hath but four Tusks, or exerted Teeth, in this Animal being all of that figure, their smallness, with respect to so great a Head, is fully compensated by their number. For the most part, those that are new and not worn, are toothed, like a small Saw, on their sides.

The Vertebræ, in all, sixty. Those of the Neck, are seven, as in a Man. The first whereof, in a Man called the Atlas, hath a Processus in the figure of the Epiglottis. The other six, have each one Processus or Prominent Part, which is long, broad, sharp, and upright: and two that are transverse, and short; to which are joyned, by a Cartilage, so many Ossa mucronata, one shorter than another from the Head toward the Trunk. But the Vertebræ, one lesser than another, from the Trunk towards the Head.

The Vertebræ of the Back, nineteen; that is, three sevens running one into another. Each of which hath three Prominent Parts, which are sharp, broad, and long; one perpendicular, and two that are transverse, or at right angles.

The Ribs 24, twelve on each side. Seven of which, have each of them double Cartilages, that is, one after another, appendent to them.

The fore part of the Sternum is plainly bony. The hinder part, cartilaginous; shaped like the Os Hyoides in a Man.

The Vertebræ of the Tail, are 34; or (if you add the last of the Trunk as common to both) 35; that is seven times seven. The first fourteen, have each three Prominent Parts, like those of the Vertebræ in the Back. The next nineteen, have only an upright Processus. The last of all, hath none. The first 14, are double, in number to those of the Neck, the next 19, are equal to those of the Back; the last answers to the Head. To all the Vertebræ of the Tail, except the last, are also subjoyned so many Ossa Mucronata, directly opposite to the upright Processus.

The Shoulder-Blades are two on each side; each ½ foot long.

The Bones of the fore-Foot, 27. The Thigh-Bone near a foot long; an inch and ¼ over. The Leg-Bones, two; each a little above ½ a foot long; and of equal thickness, sc. about ¼ of an inch over. The Foot strictly so call'd, the length of the Thigh. The Bones of the Pedium, four. The Fingers or Toes, five. The inmost, the thickest, like a Thumb. From thence, the third, the longest. The Bones of the Thumb, three; of the next Finger, four; of the next, five; of the two outmost, four; in all 20. All armed with black Claws, a little crooked, and not much above an inch long.

The Hip-Bones are three; each of them ½ a foot long.

The Bones of the hinder Foot, 24. The Thigh-Bone above a foot long, and an inch and ½ over. The Leg Bones almost eight inches long. The inmost, above an inch over; the other, but ½ an inch. The Foot, so called, the length of the Thigh. The Bones of the Pedium, four. The Toes, four; whereof the inmost, the greatest; the third, the longest. The Bones of the great Toe, three; of the next, four; of the third and fourth, five. The Claws somewhat bigger than in the fore-Foot.

Amongst other things worthy of note, the senselesness of the tradition of the Crocodiles moving his upper Jaw, is plain from the structure of the Bones, that is, the Articulation only of the Occiput with the Neck, and of the nether Jaw with the upper, as above said.

The first Author of it was Aristotle, in his Fourth Book de Partibus Animalium, Cap. 11. And thus much is true, not only of this Creature, but of all others, which have a long Head, and a wide Rictus, that when they open their Mouths, they seem to move both Jaws; as both the Viper, and the Lizard. And for the same reason, Columna (a) (a) Lib. de Aquatil. might say as much of the Hippopotamus, that he moves the upper Jaw, as the Crocodile. So all Birds, especially with long Bills, shew the contemporary motion of both the Mandibulæ; the Musculi splenii pulling back the Occiput, and so a little raising the upper, while the Musculi Digastrici pull the other down. But that this motion was not meant by Aristotle, appears in his First Book de Hist. Anim, c. 11. & lib. 3. c. 7. where he saith more plainly, That of all other Animals, only the Crocodile moveth the upper Jaw. So that he speaks of it, as a motion strange and peculiar; as if the upper Mandible did make an Articulation with the Cranium: contrary to what is here seen. And if we will hear Piso, who probably speaks Aristotle's meaning, as plainly as he doth his own, he goes further, and saith, (a) (a) Hist. N. lib. 5. That the Crocodile doth not only move his upper Jaw, but that his nether Jaw is immoveable. Than which Assertion, to one that hath any competent knowledge in Anatomy, and seeth the Head and lower Jaw of this Animal articulated in the same way, as in other Animals, nothing can appear more ridiculous.

The SKIN of a BOIGUACU; a Serpent so called, by the Natives of Brasile. As far as can now be seen, 'tis mixed of ash-colour with cancellated work of brown; somewhat after the manner, as in divers other Indian Serpents. Towards the Head it is somewhat slenderer, than about the middle; where it is in compass, half a yard. 'Tis almost seven yards long. See the Description of the Serpent in Piso. He is of all other kinds the greatest. But not so venimous, as are many others. I have now at home, saith Bontius, the Skin of a Serpent (of this kind) twelve yards long, which I kill'd in a Wood in Java. And, that in that Kindgom, was one taken thirteen yards and ½ long, with a Boar in her Belly; of which, being boyl'd, the general D. Petrus, and others did eat a part. (a)(a) Hist. Nat. l. 5. c. 3 And Joh. de Læt. reports, (b) That in Rio de la Plata, a Province of the West-Indies, there are some quatuor Orgyas longi, and so big, as to swallow a Stagg whole, horns and all. (b) Lib. 14. c. 1 Of such kind of Serpents, see also Marcus Paulus Venetus, and Athan. Kircher. (c) (c) China Illustrata

This Serpent, says Piso, will thrust his Tail up a Mans Fundament, and gird him about the middle till he kills him. (d) (d) Hist. N Yet is it probable, that they communicate no Venime by their Tail, but only are so cunning as to use that way, whereby to take the faster hold. Not only the Natives, but the Hollanders that live amongst them, make them part of their food. (e)(e) Ibid.

The GREAT RED and BLEW BLUE PARROT. Psittacus Erythrocyaneus. All the great kind called also MACCAW and Cockatoone. It was sent hither from Java. See his Description in Willoughby's Ornithologia. There are of these greater, the middlemost called Popinjayes, and the lesser called Perroqueets, in all above twenty sorts. Their more remarkable Parts, are their hooked Bills, whereby they catch hold of Boughs, and help to raise themselves up in the climbing of Trees. Their broad, thick, and muscular Tongues, for which they are called ἀνθρωπόγλωττοι and by which they are the better enabled to speak, and to rowl their meat from side to side under the edges of their Bills: and their Feet, which, like those of the Woodpecker, have two Toes before and two behind, with which they bring their meat to their mouths; and that after an odd way, sc. by turning their foot outward. (d) (d) Willoughb. Ornith.

The Parret only, saith Scaliger, (e) with the Crocodile, moves the upper Jaw: Yet the same is affirmed of the (e) Exercit. 236. S. 1. Hippopotamus, by Columna; of the Lizard, by Wormius; and of the Phænicopter, by Cardan. Which confirms what I have said under the Description of the Skeleton of a Crocodile, and in what sense it is absurdly said of them all. In their Cheeks, saith Piso, (f) (f) Hist. N. I. Occid. in each Nostril, and on the top of their Heads, in a certain Tumor, there lies, about August, a thick Worm; all which, in a little time, fall out of their own accord, without any sign left of their ever being there. They are a gregarious sort of Birds. (g) (g) Bart. 118. They breed very numerously in both the Indies. In Barbados, fly in flocks like Clouds. In Calechut they are forced (h) Gesner out of Ludov. Romanus. to set people to watch their Rice-Fields, least they should spoil them. (h) The flesh of their Chickens eats just like a Pigeon. (i)(i) Piso.

The HEAD of the TOUCAN, so called by the Indians. From the noise he makes, Aracari. (b) (b) Piso. And Pica Brasiliensis, for the likeness of both their Tails. (c) (c) Will. Orn. In the Musæum Romanum, this and the Rhinoceros Avis, are confounded. They breed not only in Brasile, but also in Guajana, and other places. This Bill was sent from Peru. See the Description of the Bird in Mr. Willughby's Ornithologia. That which is most remarkable of him, is, that his Bill is almost as big as his Body, which is not much bigger than that of a Black-Bird. The Bill and Head I shall describe more fully.

They are in length eight inches. The Skull but a little above an inch and ½ square. The upper Beak, which is prominent above the Skull near ½ an inch, is almost two inches high, and an inch and ½ over; consisting of one not hollow, but very spongy Bone, as the Crown of the Indian Crow, or rather more; with a ridge all along the top, which is blunt behind, and very sharp before; the end or point hooked down like that of an Eagle; and both the edges Toothed, as in the Indian Crow. The nether Beak near an inch and ½ over, one and ¼ high, hollowed, ridged underneath, and Toothed as the upper.

The Nostrils stand strangely, in a place altogether unusual, sc. on the top of the Head, behind the top of the Bill. The Teeth serve, doubtless, for the same purpose, as in the Humgum, and the Indian Crow.

Within his Bill, saith Piso, (a) (a) Lib. 3. Sect. 2. in the place of the Tongue, is contained a moveable Feather or black Quill. Were it really such, it were most absurd to think it any other, than one there by chance. But if a Tongue, or natural Part, it might have some such odd figure, as to have some resemblance to the stump of a Feather.

The Lesser HUMING BIRD. His Head is lost. From the top of his Breast, to the end of his Tail he is two inches long. But his Trunk or Body alone, is not above ¼ of an inch in length. The other Parts are answerable. His colour various: on his Wings and Tail, a dark-brown; on his Belly, a yellowish-Red; on his Breast, White; on his Back, Green, mixed with glorious golden Rays.

The Huming-Bird is every where ill pictur'd: even in Mr. Willughby, for want of the Bird it self. But all those Birds, at least, whereof he had the sight, are most (a) Thevetus Gallus & Linschot. l. 2. p. 249. curiously and exactly represented. He is said to have a loud, or shrill and sweet Note, emulous of that of a Nightingale. (a) He moves his Wings swiftly and continually, whether flying, or sitting on a Flower. (b) (b) Lig. Hist. Barb. He feeds, by thrusting his Bill into a Flower, like a Bee. (c) For which purpose Joh. de Læt, describing this Bird, (whether out of (c) Ibid. Oviedus or Lerius is not plain) saith, That his Tongue is twice as long as his Bill. Which Clusius hath omitted; because he took his Description from the Picture only. Gulielmus Piso observeth also the same. And it is very likely to be so, as a Part more apt, by its length, and flexibility, to thrust and wind it self to the bottoms of the deepest, and most crooked Flowers: in which, and not the upper and open parts of Flowers, it is, that the Honey-Dew which these Birds, as well as Bees, do suck, is usually lodg'd.

His Feathers are set in Gold by the the Thrygians Imbroyderers and sold(d) Charlt. On. Zoic. at a great rate. (d) The Indians make of them very artificial Images. (e) (e) Will. Orn. They take them by mazing them with Sand shot at them out of a Gun. (f)

Piso relates, (g) as a thing known to himself, and many (f) Lig. Hist. of Barb. curious and credible men with him in Brasile, That there are there a sort both of Caterpillars and of Butterflys, which (g) Hist. N. lib. 5. are transform'd into this Bird: and that in the time of Transformation, there is plainly to be seen half a Caterpillar or half a Butterfly, and half a Bird, both together. Yet the same Author saith, That this Bird buildeth her Nest of Cotton-Wooll, and layeth Eggs. That a Caterpiller should produce a Bird; and a Butterfly too, the like; and yet this Bird lay Eggs to produce its own kind, are three greater wonders than any thing that hath been said of the Barnacle. But we will rather suppose these men were themselves deceived, than that they designed to deceive others.

One half of the MALDIVE-NUT; called Coccus de Ma ladiva. Tavarcare, in the Language of the Island. Described (a) Musæum Calceolar. by Chioccus (a) out of Clusius and Garzias ab Horto; and well figur'd. Piso (b) (b) Mautissæ Aromaticæ, c. 19. also hath the Description and Figure, together with a prolix Discourse hereof. They are said to be no where found, except upon the Sea-shore. Nor is the Tree it self to be seen any where in the Island. The entire Nut, somewhat like a double Box, or a pair of Panniers. This half, about a foot long, and near ½ a foot broad; a kind of half Oval; yet flat on that side, where the two halfs are conjoyn'd. The shell about ⅕th of an inch thick, and as hard as that of a Coco-Nut. As black as a Coal. This is empty; but originally they contain a certain white Pulp, of no great Tast.

Of this Pulp both the People and Princes of Malabar have a high opinion, as if of great Virtue against most Diseases; especially in case of Poyson, or Epileptick and other like Affections. So that sometimes they value them at about five and twenty pounds a Nut. 'Tis also highly commended for the same purposes, by Piso, both from the experience of others, and his own. They sometimes make Drinking-Cups of the Shells, and tip them with Silver or Gold-Plate. 'Tis Death for any to be known to take up any of them; because those things that are cast upon the shore, are the Kings.

The FRUIT of the NAMBUGUACU, a Shrub so called by the Natives of Brasile. Described by Piso and others with the Name of Ricinus Americanus; & Palma Christi. Curiously figur'd by Tobias Aldinus. (a) (a) Descr. Horti Farnesiani. Where note, That in the said Author, through some inadvertency, the Titles of this Plant and of the Spinacia Fragifera are transpos'd. The Seeds are of the bigness of a Horse-Bean, somewhat long, smooth and glossy, ash-colour'd and mixed with black specks. The Kernel white and very oily. Given by Dr. Wilkins late Bishop of Chester, and to him, by Captain Hinde.

The Oil expressed out of these Kernels, is not only used in Lamps, but by the Natives of Brasile against all cold Distempers (b) (b) Pison. Hist. l. 4. c. 31. both outward and inward. Six or seven of the Kernels taken inwardly, purge and vomit with great vehemency. But a Tincture extracted out of them, is well proposed by Piso (c) (c) Ibid. as the safer Medicine. Although the Kernels themselves work so strongly; yet is it affirmed by Mr. Stubs, (d) (d) Phil. Trans. N. 36. That the Oil which is expressed out of them, hath no Physical (Cathartick) Operation, although a spoonful of it be taken down at once, or three put up in a Clyster. The Leaves, saith the same Person, (e) (e) Ibid. are the only Remedy, which the Indians use for the Headach. Being steeped in Water or Vinegar, they are daily experienced to cure the Shingles (f) (f) Piso, ubi supra. and other like Affections.

The FRUIT of the URUCU, a Shrub growing in Brasile. Described by Clusius and Piso. Bauhinus ventures to call it Bixam Oviedi; although Clusius only saith it is like it. In shape and bigness, saith Wormius, like an Aurange- Tree. This Fruit is about two inches long, an inch and ½ over; composed of two Concave Valves; below, Oval; above, Conich and sharp-pointed; beset all over with brisly hairs ⅙ of an inch long. Within their Concaves, thirty or more little Grains, figur'd like a Pear, and originally of a curious bright red.