OFSERPENTS. c? 



5 



iC 

 (C 



and devouring her Brood in the Mother's abfence, who npcn 

 her Return made a hideous clattering, v/hich foon brought in its 

 Mate J whereupon both, with united Beaks, fell upon the Plun- 

 derer, and after a {harp Engagement demolifli'd the Enemy. 



Father Fevillee in the Woods of the liland Marthnqiie^ 

 " being frighted by a large Serpent, which he could not well 

 *^ avoid, his Dog immediately fell on, and took the Serpent 

 " by the Head: The Serpent furrounded him and prefs'd him 

 *' fo violently, that the Blood came out of his Mouth; and 

 yet the Dog never ceafed till he had entirely tore it to pieces. 

 The Dog was not fenfible of his Wounds during the Fight, 

 but foon after, his Head prick'd by the Serpent fvvell'd prodi- 

 gioully, and he lay on the ground as dead; but his Mafter hav- 

 ing found hard by a Bafia'nier^ which is a very watry Tree, he 

 cured him with the Juice of it, and fome Treacle *." 

 The Viper is common in fome parts of France, efpeclally in 

 Daiiphi?iy or FoiBou^ from whence all the Vipers come that are 

 fold in Paris. They are ufualiy taken with wooden Tongs, or 

 by the end of the Tail, which may be done without danger; for 

 while held in that Poiition, they can't wind themfelves up to hurt 

 their Enemy. The Viper-Catchers have their Specihcks, in which 

 they can fafely confide, as not to be afraid of being bitten ; which 

 they fay is the Fat of a Viper ^ immediately rubb'd into the Wound, 

 which is one of the mod venemous in the animal V/orld. 



These Vipers are ufualiy put and kept in a Box with Braa 

 or Mofi; not that thefe higredients ferve to feed upon, as fome 

 may fancy; becaufe 'tis faid, they never eat after they are taken 

 and confin'd, but live on the Air, and \vill live fo, many Months: 

 But more hereafter, l^he DeftruBion of Vipers by human Spittle, 

 the Coition of the Marine with Lampreys, the pregnant Viper 

 biting off her Companion's Head, and the Revenge of it by the 

 Younglings 1 place among vulgar Errors. 



II. The Amodyfes is a Serpent very venemous and 9:Zxzq, of a 

 fandy Colour, black Spots, and of about a Cubit long. The Wound 

 given by the Female, the weaker Vefle), is faid to be moii dan- 

 gerous: Its Jaws are larger than the common Vipers, and from 

 fome Eminencies upon the Head, like a Tuft of Flefh, is called 



Corniitus^ 



* Fevillies Journal of the Phil. Math,^ and Bot. Obfsr.. 



