40 



MALAYAN ISLES. 



Testudo a few fingular reptiles merit attention : the fejludo Squa- 



Sc)yAMATA. f^^f^^ Bontii, 82. Gmel. Lin. 1040, the fcaly tortoife, or the I'aunab 

 of the Javanefe, and Lary of the Chinefe, is a fpecies little known ; 

 excepting in the great breadth of the body, it has much refem- 

 blance to the Manis ; the tail is nearly the length of the body, 

 and covered with fcales like thofe on that animal; the head is 

 fmall, refembling that of a fnake ; the belly foft, and eafily 

 wounded ; it is called Taunahj or the digger, becaufe it forms 

 large burrows in the banks of rivers, where it conceals itfelf ; it 

 feeds on fmall fiflies ; is amphibious, like the fea tortoife ; a 

 fluggifli animal, and, like the reft of its kind, flow of pace. The 

 Chinefe phyficians make ufe of the fcales in feveral difeafes. 



Boas. The Boas ferpent has been taken in 'Java of the length of 



thirty-fix feet. I fhall give a full account of the manners of this 

 monfter of its tribe. 



Amphisboena. The Amphijbcena is faid by Bontius to be a moft fatal fpecies. 



The Javanefe ftyle it Oular Matti, or the worm of death. The 

 fpecies engraven in Bontius feems the fame with the Amphijboena 

 Varia oi Linnaus, and oi Seba, i. p. 87. tab. 53. fig- 7. 



Crocodiles grow here to a vaft fize ; Hamilton killed one in this 

 ifland of the length of twenty-feven feet. 



Where feas of glafs with gay reflections fmile 

 Round the green coafts of Java's palmy ifle ; 

 A fpacious plain extends its upland fcene. 

 Rocks rife on rocks, and fountains gufli between ; 

 Soft zephyrs blow, eternal fummers reign, 

 And fliowers prolific biefs the foil in vain i 



No 



