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RAts and Toads are both lookt upon as noxious Creatures, and therefore generally loathed by all people, who gene∣rally have a Natural Antipathy against that sort of Vermin, unless it be Witches, and such, who are said to Cherish them: And why may there not be Magical Ani∣mals, as well as Magical Plants? But by what kind of Instinct these Creatures should foreknow of such events, or if they do not fore-know, upon what score they should after this manner fore-bode, and prognosticate such Catastrophies; is a very hard matter to determine. They are gene∣rally look'd upon to be Ominous, so are Crows, Ravens, and Screech Owls, which generally resort to the Windows, or tops of Houses, where people are a dying; and most usually the resort of them to Houses, and places, is attended with an answerable Fatality. Nor is it unusual for people to have presages of their approach into the other World, which per∣haps Page  222 may be the care and vigilance of some good Genius, by these notices to prepare us for it.