OF SERPEN TS. 8 



when he was brought into a certain Theatre, f.uv, as he pafs'd 

 along, a Keeper of wild Beafts, fitting in the Market-place, whom 

 he luddenly killed ; And that the occafion of this Revenge wa^^ 

 becaufe the faid Keeper about ten Years before had flruck him 

 with a Sword in that fame Place *. 



And Acojia writes, that a Soldier in the Town of Cochine^ 

 had thrown the Kernel of a Nut at an Elephant, which the Ani- 

 mal took up and carefully hid : Some Days after, the Elephant 

 feeing the laid Soldier pafs by, threw it in his Face, and went 

 away leaping and dancing. Ibid: 



In that fame Town, another Soldier,, meeting an Elephant 

 and his Keeper, would not give way to them ; Whereupon the 

 Keeper complained to the Elephant of the Affront, who fome 

 days after, ftanding on the River Mangata^ which runs through 

 the Town, and feeing that fturdy Soldier ftand idle, ran haftily 

 towards him, lifted him upon his Trunk, and plunged him feve- 

 ral times in the River ; after which, he drew him out, and left 

 him where he found him. Ibid, 



XXII. The Scorpion is one of the Inhabitants of the World in 

 Miniature j though a little Infed:, yet is reckoned to be one of the 

 chiefeft among Hinging Animals, whofe Poifon in different Re- 

 gions is lefs or more dangerous, as it is exalted by various degrees 

 of Heat. It has eight Legs, and two large Claws, refembling 

 thofe of a Lobfter, and a Body like a Crab or Craw-liih : They 

 are of various Colours, as red, white, yellow, black : They differ 

 jilfo in their Size and Kinds, as the marine, terreflrial, reptile, 

 winged, hurtful and innocent. 



Some are of the Bignefs and Length of a Man's Finger, not 

 much longer than a Beetle or a black Fly : Thofe known to us 

 are of a brown Colour, the Back compofed of Joints refembling 

 thofe of a Crab, but more cruflaceous. 



Authors differ about the Tail, whether it be knotty or 

 not; but all agree, that it is furnifhed with a terrible Sting, worfe 

 than the knotted Whip. Many places produce Scorpions of the 

 minute fort, not much exceeding the length of a large Bean. 



Othe rs 



* Michael Glycaf's Anral par. i. in the Memoirs of tlie Royal Society, vol. v,Yi^ 

 p. 280, 281. il^id. p. 281. 



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