jiz A NATURAL HISTORY 



The firfl Rudiment in Pythagoras^ School, was ^litiquennlce^ 

 Sikfice. The Scholars were not allow'd to talk for five Years^ 

 that is, till they had learned the Art of Sile?ice. Harpocrat.es was 

 the God of Silence, therefore painted with his Finger on his Lip, 

 and v/as worfliipped in Egypt with Ifis and Serapis. 



ANGERONA was the Goddefs of Silence at Rome, and 

 painted with a Cloth about her Mouth. Nor is it lefs venerable 

 at Venice, where after they come out of the Senate- houfe, they 

 are as filent about what was faid and done, as if they had power 

 to forget all that was faid and done. 



To the above-mention'd Serpents, the learned Mr. Ray adds, 

 by way of Supplement, a Catalogue of fifteen Eaft-lndian Ser-^ 

 pents, which he had from the learned Dr. Tancred Robinfon, 

 whofe DefcriptioRS he had from the College at Leyden^ which I 

 fhall annex to the foregoing *. 



LVIII. SERPENS Indices Coronatiis, an Indian Serpent, 

 that makes its Appearance with a crowned Head, which it holds 

 up on high, as if proud of the Honour. This is an Emblem of 

 Pride, that Dropfy of the Mind ; to yield to its Thirft, is to 

 fv^allow the Bait, that turned the Seraph into a Devil. 



The Remedy ufed by the Indians for its Wounds, is what 

 they call the Serpent-Stone, which, according to Hhevenot and- 

 others, is an artificial Compofition, and not taken out of this 

 Serpent's Head. 



LIX. V IP ERA hidica tricolor major, a Serpent remarkable 

 for a Body decorated with three fine Colours, the Liveries of 

 Summer's Pride, but living much under Ground, the Glories o£ 

 its Attire are buried in the Earth, the Worlds material Mould. 



LX. VIP ERA Zela?2ica minor jnaculis elegaitter 'variegata^. 

 a Serpent elegantly garniflied with a Variety of charming Colours: 

 It is an Inhabitant of Ceylon, an liland in the Eaft-Indies, called 

 by the Inhabitants T^enarifain, that is the hand of^DcUgbis, and. 

 not without reafon is this Illand fo called, fince it is the mod 

 fruitful place in India, producing Gold, Silver, Precious Stones, 

 plenty of Rice, Ananas, Cocoa's, bed Oranges, Lemons, Figs, 



Pome- 



