130 A NATURAL HISTORY 



has it any Rattles. They are frequently found in Corn-fields^ from 

 whence, I prefume, they have their Appellation. In their Qua- 

 lities they refemble the Green-Snakes^ that are innocent by Na- 

 ture, and in form admirably pretty, if I may be allow'd by tha 

 "Ladies, to call a Serpent fo. 



CIV. The Bhwing'Serpent, which is a Species of the Viper,, 

 but larger than the European^ is fo called, becaufe it feems to 

 blow, to fpread its H^ad, and fwell very much, before it bites ^ 

 which Bite is very poifonous,, and feems to receive fome additional 

 Malignity from the Enlargement of its Head beyond the common 

 proportion. 



CV. The BrimJlone-SnaJiey fo denominated from the Slmi- 

 ' litude of Colour : They might as well call it, the Glafi-SnakCy 

 for if any Credit be given to the Hiftorian, 'tis as brittle as a 

 Glafs-Tube, or a Tobacco- Pipe, {o that upon the touch of a 

 Twig, it immediatly breaks into feveral Pieces, which fome fay, 

 and nobody believes, are capable of Re-union, 



Its component Parts may be weak and frail, but it is queflion* 

 able, whether fo brittle as reprefented : *Tis true indeed there are 

 hard Bodies, that would not be affeded with a Twig, yet are 

 very brittle. Thus Iron^ which is one of the hardeft Metals and 

 yet mofl brittle^ and by fufing, it becomes harder and more brit- 

 tle. Now this great Brittlenefs of Iron, arifes from the great 

 quantity of Sulphur-Brimftone intermixed with it. The abun- 

 dance of Sulphur in Iron^ is apparent from the Sparks it emits 

 from under the Smith's Hammer j thofe fiery Sparks being only 

 the Sulphur of the heated Iron, nothing of which is feen in any 

 other Metal *. N. B. Roll-Brimftone fold in the Shops comes 

 from the native Sulphur, which Hehnont always preferred to that, 

 purified. 



CVI. The Tellow-Snake is in length about feven or eight 

 Foot; the Neck is fmall, rather lefs than its Body, which grows 

 bigger till it be as big as- one's Wrift, and contmues fo- large t9 

 ihe Anus i from whence it diminifhes by degrees to the Tall. Its 

 Head (which is not very large) is of a dark Colour, and fo are 



ths: 



'* Botrbfiave's Method of Cbemijlry., 



