"06 



REPTILIA — EGYPTIAN VIPER. 



ed frontwise, looks like a pair of spectacles ; but behind, like the head of a 

 cat. The eyes are fierce, and full of fire ; the head is small, and the nose 



flat, though covered with very large scales, of a yellowish ash color ; the skin 

 is white, and the large tumor on the neck is flat, and covered with oblong, 

 smooth scales. 



THE EGYPTIAN VIPER.' 



This is said to be the officinal viper of the Egyptians, and is, by some, 

 supposed to be the asp of Cleopatra, by the bite of which that high-spirited 

 princess determined to die rather than submit to be carried to Rome in 

 order to grace the triumph of Augustus. It is imported in considerable 

 quantities every year to Venice, for the use of the apothecaries in the com- 

 position of theriaca, ami for other purposes. It is abundant in Egypt; and 

 is found in other parts of Africa as well as in Asia. It is from twenty 



1 Naia haje, Lin. 



