OFSERPENTS. 127 



one, like Abel the Innocent ; the other, like Cain the Cruel : 

 An Emblem of the World, humane, angeUc Animal, and vege- 

 table, in which is a Mixture of Good and Evil. 



XCIX. The Red-back-Snake^ fo named from that Colour ; 

 a long, flender Snake, but not very common. A certain Surveyor 

 of Lands in Carolina happen'd to flep over one of thefe, v/hich 

 he did not fee till his Servant fpy'd it : The Surveyor inquired of 

 the Indian that was along with him. Whether it was a very ve- 

 7iemous Serpent ? Who anfwer'd, That if he had been wounded by 

 it^ even the Indians themfehes^ tho* expert in the Art of curing Jer- 

 pentine Wounds^ could not have faved his Life "*. 



Red, which is one of the primary Colours, proceeding from 

 the leaft refrangible Rays of Light, is a lively Emblem of Fire, 

 or the fiery Venom in this Serpent, whofe principal Quality, is 

 to draw Blood. 



C. Th E Scorpion-Lizard ; 'tis commonly called (o^ but is no 

 more like it than a Hedge- Hog: It is indeed of the Lizard Co- 

 lour, but much larger : Its Back of a dark copper Colour ; the 

 Belly, an Orange j quick in its Motion on the Ground, and very 

 nimble in running up Trees , has feveral Rows of Teeth, and is 

 reckoned to be of a very poilbnous Nature. 



CI. The Lo?tg Black-Snake^ is a land Animal, and very com- 

 mon. I have J fays my Author, killed feveral of them, full fx 

 Foot in length. Its Bite, tho' painful in its Confequences, is not 

 deem'd commonly mortal : the wounded Part fwells, and turns 

 to a running Ulcer. No living Creature more nimble in Motion, 

 or a greater Enemy to Mice, for it leaves not one of that Vermin 

 alive, wherever it comes. This Serpent kills the Rattle-Snake,, 

 by twifting its Head about the Neck of that Snake, and whipping 

 her to death with its Tail. 



This Serpent very much haunts Dairy-houfes in thofe Coun- 

 tries, and mnkes very free with unguarded Milk-Pans, and Cream- 

 Pots : It delights to be among Hens, whofe Eggs it does not fuck, 

 but fwallows them whole, as all Snakes do their Suftenance. It 

 will often fwallov/ the Egg under a fitting Hen, and then lie in 

 the Neft in the form of a Ring. 



A I. L ¥/ 



* Natural Hijlory of Carolina. 



