84 A NATURAL HISTORY 



This Serpent exceeds moft in bulk, and loudnefs in biffing, 

 whicb refembles the Cry oi Sheep and Goats^ ibid. Gyllius makes 

 the Druina to be the Chelydrus^ defcribed by the Poet, who 

 makes it a Calabrian * : Of which, more in another place. 



XVII. The Elops or Ehphis of the Antients, which fome 

 confound with the Caciliay as yonjionus obferves : It is of the 

 amphibious Sort, and known at Lemnos, where 'tis call'd Laphiati 

 by the Natives. In Aldrovajiduss Study, y^mbrofinus faw the 

 Picture of this Serpent, which was about three Foot long ; the 

 Belly is of a yellow Colour, the Back is brown, and diflinguifli- 

 able by three black Lines -f*. 



There is a marine Elope ^ an Animal counted facred by the 

 Poets, a Set of merry Mortals, famous for turning every thing 

 into a Godj or 'Ridicule. The Hiftorian mentions a certain Fifli 

 io called, that upon any loud Noife made on Land near the Shore, 

 would immediately haften towards the Place, as if it would fee 

 who durfl rival Triton in Sound ; 'Triton^ Herald oi Neptune ^ So- 

 vereign of the Sea. 



XVIII. The F areas or Parvas^ is a Serpent of a fiery Co- 

 lour, fharp Eyes, wide Mouth, two Feet fituated near the Tail, 

 by which its Motion is guided J : It is called the Serpent of Mfcu- 

 iapius^ being of a gentle, innocent, friendly Nature. In Italy 

 they frequent Houfes, and are no more dangerous than common 

 Eels J and if provoked to exercife their Teeth, there is nothing 

 venemous in the Bite. This is fuppofed by fome to be the Italian 

 Baron: One of its commendable Properties is, that it devours 

 poifonous Serpents ; and therefore is facred to the Myfteries, and 

 highly efteem'd in the Temple of Dionyjius. 



GESNER ||, from Albertus fays, it goes as it were upright, on 

 its Tail, not perpendicularly upon the fharp End, but on that part 

 of the Body joined to the Tail : It is bred in Syria, Alexandria, 

 and in the Eafl, (^c. Thefe Serpents are known alfo in Spain 



and 



* ' ■ • Nidore chelydroi 



E(i etiam tile mslus coluhr'ts in faliibus avguis 



Pofiquam exhaufia falus. — Virg. Georg. 1. iii. This is applied alfo to the Hydrus. 

 + Ray. 



^ Ef contentus-) iter caudafukare F areas. Lucan. Pharfal. 270'. 

 !) ^'^fi '"^"^ ereiius graditur Juper caudayn, 1. v. p. 65. 



