BOOK III. CHAP. Vlir. 879 



Although they have been vulgarly reputed inoft venomous 

 creatures, yet there has not been one well-attefted account, to 

 pro ^'e that they are fo in the fmalleft degree, more than other ani- 

 mals of equal iize, fuch as large ratb, ferrets, &c. whofe bite is 

 fevere, but not malignant. 



The firft voyagers held the very fame opinion of the guana; 

 and it prevailed a long time, till it became a favourite article of 

 food, and, being by that means better known, was found by eX' 

 perience to be a poor, harmlefs animal. The forbidding appearance 

 of thefe creatures, when fuil beheld by ftrangers, has contributed 

 chiefly to the prepofleffion againft them ; nothing being more 

 natural than to combine the idea of evil qualities with that of an' 

 \igly form of body. This opinion, being once eftabhfhed and pro- 

 pagated, foon becomes implicitly received, and grows into a vulgar 

 error, which gathers ftrength from the fear imprefled by the ge- 

 neral idea, and caufes mofl perlbns rather to fly from fuch aunnals, 

 than feek them out for decifive experiment. Much may likewife 

 be charged to the flupid ignorance and fuperflition of the Negroes, 

 as well as to the implicit credulity of others, who take every thing 

 they hear upon truft, and paffively fubmit to the impofition, 

 without giving themfelves the trouble of examining any further. > 



320. Vipers. 

 There are none yet difcovered in this ifland, • 



:.|y 



Black Snake. 



^ * 1 Yellow Snake. 



The bite of both is perfeftly harmlefs, and free from venom.' ^ 

 Their food confifls of rats, mice, young pigeons, chickens, eggs, 

 and fuch like. They feem to be endowed with voracious appetites ; • 

 for a yellow fnake has been known to fwallow a whole nefl: of hen's 

 eggs entire and unbroken.' They are frequently turned into corn- 

 houfes, to free them from rats; and thev do infinite fervice amons; 

 the cane-pieces in the fame way: for this reafon (as I have been 

 informed) the planters, belonging to one of the fmaller Windward 

 ifles, imported a breed of them from the continent, in order to: 

 prote£l their canes from- the depredation of vaft numbers of rats, 



which 



