MEMOIR ON AMPHIBIA. 369 



other ferpents (colubres). M. Bonnaterre in the intro- 

 dudtion to his ophiology, exprefles himfelf in a manner 

 calculated to perpetuate this error, with refpedt to a reptile 

 much lefs dangerous than is fuppofed. " Man himfelf," 

 fays he, " in fpite of the dominion he poffeffes over all the 

 animals," &c. 



It is perfedly well known that the boiquira never at- 

 tacks man unlefs he has been touched or affrighted. We 

 may pafs very near him without difturbing him, or his 

 fliewing the leaft difpofition to bite. It has been faid 

 likewife, on as flight foundation, that he climbs into trees, 

 and fome naturalifts have aflTerted with no greater degree 

 of truth, that nature has provided this reptile with little 

 bells or rattles, which make a noife as it moves along, to 

 advife man of its approach. The rattles of thefe fnakes 

 make no noife while they creep along. When they are 

 frightened or touched, inftead of flying, they coil upon 

 themfelves, remain motionlefs and ready to dart forward. 

 Then only they move with an inconceivable velocity, the 

 rattles which advife us of their vicinity, and which they 

 cannot agitate unlefs they are in a flate of anger and con- 

 tradion incompatible with the a6t of creeping. 



With regard to the impreflion of terror and alarm which 

 fome conlider as the fource of the influence of ferpents 

 over certain animals, in addition to what I have remark- 

 ed, it will be fufficient to compare the ordinary effedls of 

 fear with thofe which are faid to be exhibited by birds, 

 fquirrels, &c. when hxed by a boiquira, to convince our- 

 felves of the impoflTibility of luch a caufe. 



Birds and fquirrels have other enemies befides ferpents. 

 Man, dogs, cats, and many other animals lliew them no 

 higher favour. On the approach of thefe they fly, and 

 no effect is difcoverable limilar to that which it is pretended 

 they exhibit on the view of a ferpent. 



Well ! 

 3 C 



