144- A NATURAL HISTORY 



that Is inclined to the moifl:, for twenty-four hours. This feems 

 to differ from the America?! Ruheta. 



CXXX. The Serpent de Boa Is another of the monftrous 

 kind ; called Boa from Bos^ the Latin word for an Ox, which 

 it devours at once : The young ones, which grow to a great Bulk, 

 are nouriflied by fucking the Cow. 



In the Emperor Claudius^ time, in one of them that was 

 killed, they found a Child that was whole. In Calabria are fome 

 monftrous Animals, not unlike thefe, fays the Hiftorian ; who 

 adds, that not many Years ago a certain Bifliop fpeaks of a large 

 mifchievous Serpent, that was fliot near St. Archangel^ whofe 

 Jaws were almoft two Palms long, the Portraiture of which is 

 yet i'^tvi in a certain Temple there *. 



CXXXI. I A M informed by fomePerfons, who had it by Tradi* 

 tion from antient People, that formerly there was in this County a 

 monftrous Serpent of four or five Yards long, and thicker than a 

 common Axle-tree of a Cart, and very mifchievous, preying upon 

 Lambs, ^c. It's chief Refidence was In a Wood, near Pickop- 

 bank^ a few Miles from Blackburn in Lancajhire^ called Oufe- 

 Cajiky wherein there is yet a little Spot of Ground, called Griom's- 

 Arkj which is a deep Cavern, fituated among Rocks, in a Wood, 

 from whence it was feen to come out, and balk itfelf on a funny 

 Bank. 



The Pidure of this Serpent is drawn with Wings, two Legs, 

 and Talons like an Eagle, which is feen in fome antient Houfes, 

 (and particularly at C ayton-hall, near Du?ikin'hall) by which it 

 appears to be very large and furious. 



It's faid, one . Grimfiaw Efq-, Proprietor of that Hall, 



fhot the Monfter with Arrows, and had an Eftate offer'd him for 

 that good Service done to his Country, which he generoufly re- 

 fuftd, and only defired he might have a Paffage thro' that Wood 

 to a Townfhip he had on t'other fide of it, which was granted, 

 the Title of which is to be found in old Writings. By another 

 hand I am informed, that it was fuppofed to be a Origin, which 



is 



* M. Anronius Cuccinus Epifcopus Anglonenfis ad ThoaiArium — in Agro S. 

 Aichiii^cii. In Jonfionus -.f in Verb. 



