OF SERPENTS. ii 



fiderable Bulk; for in its Encounters with great Dogs, Crocodiles, 

 Serpents, &c. it generally comes off vi<florious: Upon their Ap- 

 proach it bunches up, and briflles up its Hair, in token of De- 

 fiance : It couches on the Ground, and leaps like a Bull-dog at 

 its Prey. 



B Y fome it is call'd the Egyptian Offer ; *tis of a dun Colour, 

 has round Ears, black Legs, and long Tail: It cannot endure the 

 Wind, and runs for Shelter, when it rifes, fometimes thrufling 

 its Head between its hinder Legs, in a round Form like a Hedge- 

 hog. 



Those who have examined into Kites Nefts, have found 

 Vipers in them, which are fuppofed to be Food for their young 

 ones. In China is a little Creature like a Weezel, called Magaure^ 

 that is a mortal Enemy to Serpents, which it kills by ftriking its 

 Teeth into their Heads. The Chameleon trembles at the Sight of 

 this little Furiofo * ; whofe Ears are fhort and round, its Nofe 

 like that of a Ferret, its Tongue and Teeth like a Cat, which 

 is a Creature it deftroys in a Minute, though not the eafieft to be 

 killed. The Argoli Serpenfs in hidia deftroy Afps ; therefore 

 by Alexander the Great's Command, they were tranfported to 

 Alexandria -f*. 



Whether the Serpent hates Man more than other Crea- 

 tures, is with me a queflion ; be that as it will, it ^s wonderful 

 to think, that notwithflanding Man's and other Creatures invin- 

 cible Hatred of Serpents, yet hitherto they have been able to fup- 

 port themfelves in a State of War againfl all the World. 



EvE N among Vegetables are found Enemies to Serpents; as 

 the Ditfany oti Virginia^ or the wild Fenny-royal -y the Leaves of 

 which, fays my Author, being bruifed, we tied in the Cleft of a 

 long Stick, and held them to the Nofe of the Rattle-Snake^ who 

 by turning and wriggling, laboured hard to avoid it, and in half 

 an hour's time was kill'd by it : This was done July 1657, ^^ 

 which Seafon thofe Creatures are computed to be in the greatefl 

 Vigour of their Poifon ; it is alfo remarkable, that in thofe Places 

 where the wild Fenny -Royal grows, no Rattle-Snakes are obferved 

 to come II . 



* 'L.'LeComte's Memoirs-^ p. 504. f Johnjioms^ p. i5. tl Vhilof.Travfaft. 

 abrtdg'd by Lffwri&orp, p. 8u. 



C 2 SEC. 



