go A NATURAL HISTORY 



furrounded with a Circle of burning Coals, chofe to fling itfelf to 

 Death rather than be burnt. 



In Ceylon in the EaJl'Lidies, they have many Species of Ser- 

 pents J as, 



XXIII. The Pimbera Serpent^ whofe Body is faid to be as 

 big as a Man's Middle, and in Length proportionable. The 

 Creatures of this Kind fecure their Prey, even horned Beafts 

 (which fometimes are pretty large) by a fort of a Peg, or pointed 

 Hook^ that grows upon the Extremity of the Tail : They are flow 

 in Motion, and therefore fkulk in hollow Places j and when they 

 have taken the Spoil, tho' horned, they fwallow it alive, and 

 whole i which often proves fatal, becaufe the Horns may goar the 

 Belly. More, further on. 



XXIV. The Noya Serpent is another ill-natur'd /W/^;/, about 

 four Foot long, will ftand with its Body half upright two or three 

 Hours together, thereby difplaying an Air of Majefty : The In- 

 habitants call it the King's Snake, 



Their Poifon in that Part of the Country operates va- 

 rioully : Some after they are bitten, fall into a profound Sleep, 

 and without fpeedy Help die in about fix Hours time ; Others 

 grow diftradted, and if neglected die in twenty-four Hours, and 

 bleed at all the Pores of the Body, and are irrecoverable : Of 

 which before *. 



XXV. The Polonga Serpent is five or fix Foot long, and a 

 moft venemous Creature, deftroying all manner of Animals that 

 fall within its Circuit, as well as Men, Women and Children. 

 When the Noya and Polonga Serpents happen to meet, a bloody 

 Battle enfuesj they fight till one be kill'd, and then the Conque- 

 ror eats up the flain. 



XXVI. The Cob res Cape I los, Sea-ferpents from eight to ten 

 Yards long, are moft dangerous Beafls, and frequently kill People 

 in that Country -f-. 



When Alexander was in the Eaji-hjdies^ he and his Mace- 

 donians were flrangely alarm'd by an Army of Serpesits that fallied 



upon 



* Atlas Ccogr. /i[ia- \ lh\d> from BaU^us. 



