BOOK IV. 



KEPTILES. 



1. Serpents, or Ophidian Reptiles. 



SEKPEKTS. 



SERPENTS are characterised by an elongated body, clothed 

 in scales and destitute of limbs, but furnished with a 

 tail. They move by lateral undulations of the body ; 

 and in this manner they glide with equal ease along the 

 bare ground, through entangled thickets or water, and 

 up the trunks of trees. They possess the power of fast- 

 ing a great length of time, and when they feed always 

 swallow their prey whole, which they are enabled to 

 accomplish by their faculty of dilating their bodies to an 

 enormous size. This power is carried to such an extent 

 that a Boa Constrictor can swallow a bullock whole, 

 suffering no other inconvenience than that of lying in a 

 state of torpor while digestion is proceeding. Serpents 

 generally roll themselves up when in a state of repose, 

 with the head in the centre ; and when disturbed raise 

 the head before they uncoil the body. The Serpent is 

 often made a subject of poetry ; and as it was the form 

 adopted by the arch fiend to seduce Eve, it is generally 

 considered the emblem of insinuation and flattery : 



" on his rear, 



Circular base of rising folds that tower'd 

 Fold above fold, surprising maze, his head 

 Crested aloft, and carbuncle his eyes. 



