^i'S. Centipe's, of StotoPE>rbRA; 



The centipes of Jamaica is not equai to the fize of what are com- 

 :monlv obferved at Carthagena. Tlie yip of this reptile is not near 

 fo inflainmatory as the fliiig of a wittp ; nor-wiU it offend, unlcfs 

 firfl: hurt, as I have experienced. It harbours mod commonly in 

 timber; and is believed to have been introdviced hither originally 

 ,amon"" logwood, and other woods imported from the continent. 

 But, if this is true, it has certainly degeneiated in bulk, feldom ex- 

 ceeding five inches; whereas, at Carthagena, according to Ulloa, 

 .they are from a yard to a yard and a quarter in length. 



319. Gall I WASP, 



The bite of this animal (which is Ibmewhat of the lizard-make, 

 .and about twenty inches in length) was never known to be mortal; 

 but the effefts of it have frequently been exafperated by terror, and 

 the ridiculous method of cure. A Negroe, when bit by it, is in- 

 ilantly feized with the moft difmal apprehenfions, and haftens with 

 all his fpeed to reach fome piece of water, from a full perfuafion, 

 that, if the galliwafp gets at it before him, he (hall certainly die; 

 but that, if he plunges in firfl, It will be fatal to the animal. This 

 done, he cuts out the bitten part. It is but very feldom luch ac- 

 cidents can happen, as this creature is not only fliy and timid, but 

 infrequent. It ikulks among rocks in deep woods ; and never bites, 

 unlefs when trod upon, or otherwife hurt. The confequence to the 

 Negroe is, that he is feized with a fever, which lafts a day or two. 

 If, therefore, we confider the violent agitation of mind and body, 

 into which the patient throws himfelf after the bite, together with 

 the feverity of the operation he performs upon the bitten part; we 

 muft be of opinion, that it would be very extraordinary, if a fever 

 was not the certain and invariable confequence. 



Thcfe animals, it is litid, have been fometimes found in niarfliy 

 places ; but I queftion whether they ever take up their conftant 

 refidence in fuch places, as they fccm to delight moftly in rocky 

 fituations. If they enter marfhy ground, it is probably fuch only 

 as lies adjacent to loofe rocks, and in order to make an occafional 



repaft on the muikcctos frequenting it. 



Although 



