OF SERPENTS. Ss 



and other temperate Regions, and every where efteemed Enemies 

 to hurtful Serpents, and Friends to Mankind ; therefore were con- 

 fecrated to the divme MJculapiuSi that great and glorious Exemplar 

 of Humanity. 



XIX. The Dip/as or Dipfacus is a little venemous Reptile of 

 the Afpick-kind *, lefs than a Viper, but kills fooner j and is moft 

 remarkable in this, that when it bites, the Poifon brings an un- 

 quenchable Thirfl on the Perfon afFed:ed, who finding no Relief, 

 runs to the Water, and drinks till he burfts afunder -f*. 



The Poetick Hiftorian obferves, how Aldus, an Enfign- 

 bearer in the Roman Army in Africa, was flain by this Serpent ; 

 at firft he felt httle or no Pain from the Bite, but as foon as it be- 

 gan to operate, he was immediately fcorch'd to death J. Gale?i 

 calls this Serpent Diabetes, and Mgineta Dipfacus, from the in- 

 curable Thirfl that accompanies its Bite ; By others 'tis called *S/- 

 tula, becaufe of the burning Heat caufed by the Wound. 



I T is about a Cubit in length, lives in fait Marflies and Shal- 

 low Waters ; it dwells in Arabia, Rhodes, Africa, efpecially in 

 Libya, where fome Branches of the venemous Family live on Ca- 

 mel's Flefli, and Locufts dried in the Sun. The more hot the 

 Climate, the more terrible the Wound, as it is in that hot Coun- 

 try, where they have no Springs, but a few fait Wells, which en- 

 creafe the animal Appetite of Thirft. The learned Venetian 

 makes the Serpent Dipfas an Hieroglyphick of illicit LcFue, the 

 Poifon of which will, without timely Repentance, excite the 

 Thirfl of Dives, who wanted a Drop of Water to cool his 

 fcorched Tongue ||. 



XX. Common Snake. Thefe Serpents in their Summer-rambles 

 haunt among Burt:ies, moffy Grounds, uliginous and unfrequent- 

 ed Situations. In a fultry Day they may be feen bafking them- 



felves 



* Some make it of the viperine fort. One calls it Vipera Jiticuhfa. Viper a [item 

 facieates. Avicenna. Conrad. Gefner. p. 42. Inter ajpidem df viperam, fays ano- 

 ther. Uii/. f Accejjio Gjl/ii, cap. 47. 



X - Sa7iguwis Aulam 



Torta caput retro Dipfas caJcata momordit. 



Vix do'or' — . p. 270. 



II Joativis Pierii Valeriani BeUunenJis Hierogfjphica) inter Col/e^antaj p. 34, Tttu- 

 lusj Amoris ignes. 



