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A HISTORY OF 



ous, the capricious imagination is set at work 

 to call up new terrors; and scarce a savage 

 is found that does not talk of winged serpents 

 of immoderate length, flying away with the 

 camel or the rhinoceros, or destroying man- 

 kind by a single glare. Happily, however, 

 such ravages are no where found to exist at 

 present; and the whole race of dragons is 

 dwindled down to the Flying Lizard, a little 

 harmless creature, that only preys upon in- 

 sects, and even seems to embellish the forest 

 with its beauty. 



The Flying Lizard of Java perches upon 

 fruit-trees, and feeds upon flies, ants, butter- 

 flies, and other small insects. It is a very 

 harmless creature, and does no mischief in 

 any respect. Geritil, in his Voyage round the 

 World, affirms, that he has seen these lizards 

 at the Island of Java, in the East Indies. He 

 observed they flew very swiftly from tree to 

 tree; and having killed one, he could not but 

 admire the skin, which was painted with se- 

 veral beautiful colours: it was a foot in length, 

 and had four paws, like the common lizards ; 

 but its head was flat, and had a small hole in 

 the middle ; the wings were very thin, and re- 

 sembled those of a flying-fish. About the 

 neck were a sort of wattles, not unlike those 

 of cocks, which gave it no disagreeable 

 appearance. He intended to have pre- 

 served it, in order to bring it into Europe ; 

 but it was corrupted by the heat, before the 

 close of the day : however, they have since 

 been brought into England, and are now 



[Besides these, it may be necessary to mention one 

 more, the Basilisk, so dreadful to the imagination of our 

 ancestors. It is, however, an inoffensive animal, a native 

 of South America. It is distinguished by a long, conic, 

 cap-like protuberance on the head, and a kind of fin like 



common enough in the cabinets of the curi- 

 ous. 



The last animal of the lizard kind that I 

 shall mention, is theChalcidian Lizard of Al- 

 drovandus, very improperly called the Seps 

 by modern historians. This animal seems to 

 make the shade that separates the lizard from 

 the serpent race. It has four legs, like the 

 lizard ; but so short, as to be utterly un- 

 serviceable in walking: it has a long slendet 

 body, like the serpent; and it is said to have 

 the serpent's malignity also. The fore legs 

 are very near the head ; the hind legs are 

 placed far backward ; but before and behind 

 they seem rather useless incumbrances, than 

 instruments serving to assist the animal in its 

 motions, or in providing for its subsistence. 

 These animals are found above three feet 

 long, and thick in proportion, with a large 

 head and pointed snout. The whole body 

 is covered with scales ; and the belly is white 

 mixed with blue. It has four crooked teeth, 

 as also a pointed tail, which, however, can 

 inflict no wound. Whether the teeth be 

 similar to the viper's fangs, we are not told ; 

 though Volateranus says, they are covered 

 with a membrane ; by which I am apt to think 

 he means a venom-bag, which is found at the 

 root of the teeth of all serpents that are poi- 

 sonous. It is viviparous; fifteen young ones 

 having been taken alive out of its belly. Upon 

 the whole, it appears to bear a strong affinity 

 to the viper; and, like that animal, its bite 

 may be dangerous. 



a fish along the back, which it can elevate or depress at 

 pleasure; and is about a foot and a half in length, of great 

 agility, and is said to be able occasionally to switn with 

 perfect ease.] 



