Page:The History of the Island of Dominica.djvu/75

 of that of an elephant, it having a horny bill, like the probocis of that animal, bending upwards from the under part, with another, pointing downwards from the upper part of its head, both of a jet black, and of a fine polih. On the inner urface of the upper bill are raied points, like the teeth of a aw, which are ued by the inect in the ame manner. Its body is like that of a beetle, but coniderably larger, with double wings, the inner of which is like coare gauze; and its legs are armed at each joint with crooked, harp nails, with the ame on each toe, like a bird.

The proces of this inect in awing down branches of trees is really admirable, but it is hardly poible to form an idea of the manner of doing it without a decription. This work it performs by encircling the branch with its bills, the points of which it fatens well into the wood, and turning round it brikly by the trength of its wings, which make a loud buzzing noie,