OF SERPENTS. 



Perhaps the Reafon of afcribing two Heads to this Ser- 

 pent, might be, becaufe it is faid to poilbn by the Tail and Teeth. 

 Others fay, both Ends are fo like in Figure and Bulk, that they 

 are not eafily diftinguiflied. 



It ieems probable to me, that this Serpent, like fome Infedls or 

 Worms, has a double Motion, antrorfuml^ retrorfum, which made 

 fome of the Ancients conclude it had two Heads ; one in the ufual 

 Situation, the other in the Extremity of the Cauda. Its Body is 

 of equal Thicknefs, and recommended to the View by various 

 and delightful Spots *. 



W E read of this Serpent in Gothland^ where it comes forth in 

 the Spring before all other Serpents, being more able to encounter 

 the cold Air -f*. Some Authors tell us, that its Skin wrapt about a 

 Stick, drives away all Serpents ; which I place among the Tales of 

 Antiquity. 



This Serpent is found in the Lybiaji Deferts, and alfo in the 

 liland of Lemnos^ in the /Egean Sea. The Pundlure made by its 

 Wounds is fo fmall, that it can fcarcely be difcerned, yet termi- 

 nates in a dreadful Inflammation and a lingering Death. 



ERASMUS was puzzled about the Senfe of that Greek Pro- 

 verb '^^f*^ ^i' ^^^^\ hydrus in dolio, a Serpent in the Hogfhead. 

 The Meaning of it, faid an Interpreter of Dreams, is this : A cer- 

 tain Perfon had a VelTel of Wine, that was conflantly diminifli- 

 ing, tho' carefully lock'd up ; the Reafon of which he could not 

 account for, till he empty'd the Veflel, at the bottom of which he 

 found a Serpent rioting in Wine J. 



Perhaps as good an Interpretation may be this, that there 

 was Venom in the Cask (of which the Serpent was an Emblem) 

 to all thofe who rioted in the Bowls of Excefs. Not fo, fays a 

 Son oi Bacchus 'j for 



The thirfiy Earth foah up the Rain,, 

 And drinks J and gapes for Drink again. 

 'The Sea itfelf which one would think. 

 Should have but little need of Drink^ 



Drinks Ten thoufand Rivers up. 



L Th£ 



* Conrad. Gefver. /Elian. Columella, lib. vi. 



t Olaus Mapius Hiji. B. xxi. % Conradus Geftier. 



73 



