132 A NATURAL HISTORY 



CIX. The TzicatUfian Serpent, called the Mother of AntSyi 

 becaufe it lodges in their Apartments, and other warm Situations. 

 We read of Ants in the Eaft-hidies that build their Houfes above 

 Ground, and with the Jinejl Clay^ of which the People make 

 their Idols-, their little Houfes are like ftrong Butts, hollow with- 

 in, where they dwell, and breed in Nefts like Honey-combs. 



The Butts prefent to my view the Bow and Arrows in the 

 plands of the Parthians, who were efteemed the beft Archers in the 

 world, and very defervedly, having the Art ofJI^ooting backwards^ 

 and making ihoi^: Retreat more terrible than their Charge: Whence 

 that of Seneca *, ^he Parthians Flight does moft affright. The 

 manner of their Fight is defcribed by the Poet, who lays, They 

 were better Soldiers when they run away, and fought beft when fur"- 

 theft off] trujiing moji to the Bow f. 



M. CRASSUS, in his Expedition againft them, being told 

 by an AJirolcger it would be unprofperous, becaufe of fome ill 

 Afy^O: m Scorpio : Hujlj Man, quoth he, I fear not Scorpio^. 

 but Sagittarius. — -But to return to the Motherly Serpent, which 

 is about a Foot and a half long, the Body flender, adorn'd with- 

 red and white Streaks. Another Author fays, 'tis of a red Colour^ 

 diftinguifh'd by black Lines, intermix'd with white Spots : The 

 Indiafis play with this Serpent (as Ladies with their Lap-Dogs) 

 and for Diverlion, wear this little innocent and pretty Animal (as 

 a Necklace of Pearls) about their Necks :{. 



ex. The Macacoatl, or Anguis Cervinus, (o called from its 

 horned Head, which refembles that of a Deer, as thick as a Man's 

 Thigh, in length about twenty Foot, fprinkled with dufky Spots 



inclining to the black and yellow. This feems to be a Member 



of the gigantick Family, already defcribed. Ibid. 2^^. There-- 

 fore I difmifs it, and proceed to the 



CXI. A^ASEN Serpent, which feems to be the Birth of the 

 Philippines, and. very venemous: Its Wound proves fual in a few 

 Minutes, which is preceded by the Putrefaction of the Fiefhj nex-t 



to 



* Terga convcrfi metnenda Partlit. 

 " f Pugiia levis, beliumque fuj^ax, turmrrquc fugacc^, 



Et melior cenilTe loco quam pel. ere miles. Lurifi. 



t JoaTi.Eufch. Kierewhergii Hifioria N^iiura^ p.. 272, — 3. 



