NATURAL HISTORY 



O F 



SERPENTS. 



PART I. 



SECTION I. 



Begin with the Divifion of Serpents, which I diftri- 

 bute into Terrejlrial^ that Uve upon Land only ; 

 Aquatick, that live in Water ; and Amphibious^ that 

 inhabit both Elements. Under thefe I comprehend 

 all the Relatives to the venomous Tribe. But how 

 can Land-Serpents live in Water? I anfwer, their Bodies are 

 equally formed for both Places. 



Among Animals, fome breathe by Lungs^ and others hy Gills, 

 as all fanguineous Fiili, (excepting the Whale.) By G//A, I mean 

 thofe membranous cartilaginous Parts on both fides the Head, 

 whereby they hear and refpire : What we call Gills in Fifh, are 

 properly their Lungs. Refpiration (which is an involuntary Mo- 

 tion of the Breaft, whereby Air is alternately taken in and thrown 

 out) is as neceffary to Filh as to Land-Animals : In Water, is a 

 great Quantity of Air inclofed, and it is that Air they refpire, and 

 by their Gills they feparate the Air from the Water, and prefent 

 it to the Bloody after the fame manner as 'tis prefented to the 

 Lungs of Land-Animals. 



B The 



