

54. A N A T U R A L H I S T O R Y 



CormifUi. Its Wounds prove fatal without a fpeedy Cure. It is 

 found in I/jbia, a Limb of Jfrica, and alfo in lllyricuin^ and in 

 foine parts of Italy ^''■. . 



This Serpent is called Corniitus, a horned Beaft -f-. Of this 

 Form, is a numerous Flerd; we read, that in the Roman Army- 

 was a Band of Foot Soldiers called Corniiti. 



Upon the Continent of A?nerica are Bulls and Cows, that 



have no Horns, lavs Dr. Cb. Ijcizh who adds, " The Defeat 



*' of Horns in thefe Beafts, brings into my mind a remarkable 

 *' Phenomenon of one Alice Green ^ whofe Pidture I have feen in 

 Whalley Abby^ in LancaJJnre. This Woman had two Horns 

 which grew out of the back part of her Headj they grew 

 backwards like thofe of Rams, and were about three Inches 

 long; thcfe fhe caff once in three Years, and had always into- 

 " lerable Pains, before the Horns broke out J." 



He might have mentioned another innocent Creature, on 

 whofe Head a treacherous Companion inoculates a Scion, which 

 intitles him to the title of Cuckold, a word derived from Ciickows^ 

 who having no Beds of their own, invade their Neighbour's. Of 

 the Ciickow 'lis faid, that having no Neft, fhe takes pofTeffion of 

 fome other Bird's Neft, deftroys the Eggs, and lays in it an Egg 

 of her own, which the innocent Bird brings forth and nurfes for 

 its ovm II . 



III. The Ceraftesh a Serpent of the viperlne Kind; its Head 

 refembles the Cornigerous -, it belongs to the Lybian and Nubian 

 Family : Its Teeth are like thofe of the Viper, and it brings its 

 SucceiTors into the World after the fame manner. 



Its Conftitution is very dry, which refines and exalts its Poi- 

 fon, and makes it more dangerous ; the Wound is generally at- 

 tended with Diftradion, and continual pricking as with Needles. 

 Some f^.y, 'tis of a whitifli Colour, others arenaceous; it loves 

 fandy Habitations, where it often farprifes the unwary Traveller: 

 And all agree 'tis of a moft cruel Nature; and therefore in fome 

 Places 'twas made the Executioner of .Malcfadors **, as the Juice 



of 



* Cc7n'itatu imprhnis Gor'itienji Invcn'itur. — Ray. 



t Lucan. Pharfal. lib. ix. 



t His Natural HiJIory of Lancnjhire^ Book ii. p. 3. 



IJ \^x. Willoughhy^ wht) writ the Kiftory of Birds, affirms this Account of the 

 Cuckow to be truL- upon his own Knowledge, according to Mr. Ray. 



** Nunc potei aSlutum tnfid'iatoremqiAe CeraJicn—-Non is corpus habet, fed quatuor 

 aut duo prof ert Cornua. Nicander in Ther. 



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