CoLENSO. — Memorabitia of certain Animal Prodigies. 91 



— obscured in the night or twihght of the dim past there are 

 similar and well- authenticated European narrations contained 

 in written history. Some of them, being but little known, I 

 purpose bringing to your notice this evening. 



My first is from ancient Roman history, originally recorded 

 by the able Latin historian Livy (though that portion of his 

 works containing it has long been lost), and is thus related 

 by Valerius Maximus from Livy, by whom it is said to have 

 been recorded at greater length. It is the account of that 

 enormous reptile which spread dismay even through a power- 

 ful and disciplined Roman army. Valerius says, — 



"We may here mention the serpent so eloquently and 

 accurately recorded by Livy, who says that near the River 

 Bagrada, in Africa, a snake was seen of so enormous a mag- 

 nitude as to prevent the army of x\ttilius Regulus from the 

 use of the river ; and, after snatching up several soldiers 

 with its enormous mouth and devouring them, and killing 

 several more by striking and squeezing them by the spine 

 of its tail, was at length destroyed by assailing it with all 

 the force of military engines and showers of stones, after it 

 had withstood the attack of their spears and darts ; that it 

 was regarded by the whole army as a more formidable enemy 

 than even Carthage itself ; and that, the whole adjacent 

 region being tainted with the pestilential effluvia proceeding 

 from its remains, and the waters with its blood, the Roman 

 army was obliged to move its station. He also adds that the 

 skin of the monster, measuring 120ft. in length, was sent to 

 Rome as a trophy." Pliny also relates this story, saying, " It 

 is a well-known fact that during the Punic war, at the River 

 Bagrada, a serpent 120ft. in length was taken by the Roman 

 army under Regulus, being besieged, like a fortress, by means 

 of balistse and other engines of war. Its skin and jaws were 

 preserved in a temple at Rome down to the time of the 

 Numantine war."* That wonderful encounter took place 

 B.C. 256. 



My second narration is a much more modern one, though 

 happening five hundred years ago. It is well and fully 

 authenticated, and, I think, very interesting, particularly as 

 several of its prominent features are curiously in close accord 

 with the Maori tales ; and, as I have only met with it in a 

 valuable and scarce old folio of the last century, I have made 

 a copious extract of it, deeming it worthy to be brought before 

 you. 



* Pliny, " Nat. Hist.," lib. viii., c. 14. This astonishing event is also 

 referred to by many ancient writers ; among others, by Floras (lib. ii., 

 c. 2) ; Aulus Geilius (lib. vi., c. 3); and Val. Maximus [supra), (lib. i., 

 c. 8). 



