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A M A I C A. 461 



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CENCHRIS 1. 'Tardigrada major lutea, maculis nigris\—. ,, „ , 



notata ; caudd breviori & crajjiori. j ' ,ia e * 



This reptile is very common in the country parts of Jamaica, and runs frequently 

 from eight to fixteen or twenty feet in length ; they have a horny protuberance 

 on each fide of the anus, which probably affiits in the acts of copulation, and 

 may, upon occafion, help them in climbing trees, which they often do, and with 



great eale. 



The yellow makes move but flowly, catching their prey more by ftealth or 

 chance than by agility ; but when they fix themfelves in a tree, their length gene- 

 rally enables them to catch every thing that paries underneath; for they wind the 

 tail- part round fome limb, and ftretch the fore part down, in which fituation, it is 

 affirmed, they have been fometimes known to attack both men and bealls j but I 

 could not find any credible authority for this arTertion. 



Many of the negroes eat thefe reptiles, and look upon them as a rich and deli- 

 cate food ; but they generally prefer ve the fat, which is confidered as a good 

 refolutive, and highly recommended for fuch purpofes; 



COLUBER 1. Major fufcaluteo fubvdriegata, caudal —, * 1, , Q , 



*«»uii*4 ( 1 ne large black bnake. 



tenuiori. 



I have feen only one of this fort, which was about twelve feet in length ; it was 

 more (lender and active than the yellow fnake, and the tail-part more tapering 

 and longer. 



COLUBER 2. Minor nigra i ventre albido. The fmall black Snake. 



This little reptile is very flender, and extremely active ; it is generally from two 

 feet and a half to three feet, or better, in length; and thought, by fome people, to 

 be venomous ; but this notion prevails chiefly among the negroes, who have many 

 idle prejudices among them. I have never heard of any damage done by them, 

 though they are frequent in moft of the colonies, and will often erect the fore-part 



of their bodies, and ftand in very daring poflures. 



T. 11. 





Of Lizards, a?id Reptiles of the Lizard Tribe 



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ROCODILUS 1. Loricatus maximus aquatilis\ palmis pen- 



tadaftylis, tribus inter ioribus unguicu- 

 latis fiJjiSy exterioribus palmatis- y plan- 

 tis pentadaftylis femipalmatis, exteriori >The Alligator. 



utrinque mutico. 





Crocodilus. Mart. 416. & Bar. 152. 

 Crocodile. Davies. Chap. 21. 



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I chofe rather to defcribe this creature under its antient name, than to 



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among the lizards, from which it feems to differ in many eflential particulars. It 

 grows to a monftrous fize, and is frequently obferved from fourteen to twenty four 

 feet in length. It moves very flowly on the ground, and generally feeks its prey in 

 water ; but when any fmall animals come within its reach, it feizes them with great 

 eagernefs, and foon deftroys them. It is quite tongue-lefs, but the place of this mem- 

 ber is fupplied by a fmall elaftic valve fituated between the joints of the jaws, in the 

 bottom of the mouth, which covers and clofes up the fwallow occafionally : both 

 the jaws are mobile, efpecially the upper one, and well befet with large conic and 

 moderately comprefled teeth. 



The creature has a flrong mufky fcent, by which it is frequently difco- 



vered 



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