THE DRAGON. 191 



one of them is at the tail of the animal, and is only apparent. A 

 kind of serpent, indeed, is so often found with two heads growing 

 from one nedr, that some have fancied it might form a species ; but 

 we have, as yet, no sufficient evidence to warrant such a conclu- 

 sion. Admitting, however, that a serpent with two heads is an un- 

 natural production, for this very reason it might be chosen by the 

 Spirit of God, to be a prototype of the apocalyptical monster. The 

 horns seem to refer to the cerastes or horned snake, the boa or 

 proper dragon having no horn. But this enormous creature has a 

 crest of bright yellow, and a protuberance on his head, in color like 

 a burning coal, which naturally enough suggests the idea of a 

 crown. The remaining particulars refer to facts in* the history of 

 the boa or other serpents. The great red dragon stood before the 

 woman, ready to devour her child. When the boa meets his ad- 

 versary, he stands upright on his tail, and attacks with dreadful 

 rage, both man and beast. The tail of the great red dragon, ' drew 

 the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth.' 

 The boa frequently kills his victim with a stroke of his tail. 



Stedman mentions an adventure in his * Expedition to Surinam,' 

 which furnishes a very clear and striking illustration of this part of 

 our subject. It relates to one of these large serpents, which, though 

 it certainly differs from the red dragon of Asia and Africa, com- 

 bines several particulars connected with our purpose. He had not 

 gone from his boat above twenty yards, through mud arid water, 

 when he discovered a snake rolled up under the fallen leaves and 

 rubbish of the trees, and so well covered, thaj it was some time be- 

 fore he distinctly perceived the head of the monster, distant from 

 him not above sixteen feet, moving its forked tongue, while its eyes, 

 from their uncommon brightness, appeared to emit sparks of fire. 

 He now fired; but missing the head, the ball went through the 

 body, when the animal struck round, with such astonishing force, 

 as to cut away all the underwood around him, with the facility of 

 a scythe mowing grass, and by flouncing his tail, caused the mud 

 and dirt to fly over his head to a considerable distance. He return- 

 ed in a short time to the attack, and found the snake a little remov- 

 ed from his former station, but very quiet, with his head as before, 

 lying out among the fallen leaves, rotten boughs, and old moss. He 

 fired at him immediately ; and now, being but slightly wounded, 

 he sent out such a cloud of dust and dirt, as our author declares 

 he never saw but in a whirlwind. At {he third firo the snake was 

 shot through the head. All the negroes present declared it to be 

 bat a young one, about half grown, although, on measuring, he 

 found it twenty-two feet and some inches, and its thickness, about 

 that of his black boy, who might be about twelve years old. 



These circumstances account for the sweeping destruction which 

 the tail of the apocalyptic dragon effected among the stars of heav- 

 en. The allegorical incident has its foundation in the nature and 

 structure of the literal dragon. The only circumstance which still 

 requires explanation, is the flood of water ejected by the dragon, after 



