OF FROGS, LIZARDS, AND SERPENTS. 



BOOK III. 



OF SERPENTS, ETC. 



CHAP. I. 



OF SERPENTS IN GENERAL. 1 



WE now come to a tribe, that not only their 

 deformity, their venom, their ready malignity, 

 but also our prejudices, and our very religion, 

 have taught us to detest. The serpent has, 

 from the beginning, been the enemy of man ; 

 and it has hitherto continued to terrify and an- 

 noy him, notwithstanding all the arts that 

 have been practised to destroy it. Formidable 

 in itself, it deters the invader from the pur- 



1 The serpent tribes are distinguished from all other 

 animals by a peculiar character, in which their figure, 

 motion, and habits, so repulsive and disgusting, form a 

 striking contrast to the beautiful and variegated colours 

 with which their skin is studded, adding, if possible, to 

 their subtile and venomous appearance ; while their 

 crawling motion strikingly exemplifies the decree of the 

 Creator, made after the temptation and fall of man : 

 " Because thou hast done this, cursed art thou above all 

 cattle, and every bird of the field ; upon thy belly shalt 

 thou go, and dust thou shalt eat all the days of thy life." 



The tribes are very numerous, and have been divided 

 by Lacepede into eight genera, each of which are subdi- 

 vided, and contain many species. The genera comprise 

 the Boas, containing 11 species; the Rattle-snake, 6 

 species; the Vipers, 196 species; the Snakes, 24 spe- 

 cies; the Amphisboena, 5 species; Langrata, 1; Coecilia, 

 2; and Acrochord, 1. 



Although destitute of feet and wings, few animals are 

 so active as serpents, or can transport themselves from 

 place to place with equal agility. Whether to seize its 

 prey, or escape from danger, the serpent moves with the 

 velocity of an arrow, and surpasses several species of 

 birds in the ease and rapidity with which it gains the 

 summits of the highest trees, twisting and untwisting its 

 flexible body around their trunks and branches with such 

 celerity, that the quickest eye can scarcely follow its ra- 

 pid motion. Their size greatly varies ; some are but a 

 few inches long, while others are forty, or even fifty feet 

 in length. All are covered with scales, or scaly tuber- 

 cles. Their brain case is weak and shallow; and hence 

 serpents are easily killed by a blow on the head. The 

 formation and conjunction of the vertebrae are well adap- 

 ted for mobility. 



suit; and, from its figure, capable of finding 

 shelter in a little space, it is not easily disco- 

 vered by those who would venture to try the 

 encounter. Thus possessed at once of potent 

 arms and inaccessible or secure retreats, it 

 baffles all the arts of man, though never so 

 earnestly bent upon its destruction. 



For this reason, there is scarce a country in 

 the world that does not still give birth to this 

 poisonous brood, that seem formed to quell hu- 

 man pride, and repress the boasts of security. 

 Mankind have driven the lion, the tiger, and 

 the wolf from their vicinity ; but the snake 



All parts of their body have great force, agility, and 

 elasticity. They are most abundant in warm and tem- 

 perate regions ; but increase in size and numbers, in pro- 

 portion to the heat and moisture, and to the freedom of 

 their range. They have less blood than quadrupeds, a 

 lower animal heat, and less interior activity of system. 

 They are more animated in times of tempest and hurri- 

 cane, when the electricity of the atmosphere is in the 

 greatest perturbation. Their sense of hearing is dull, 

 but their vision acute. Their sense of taste is probably 

 of considerable delicacy, as the tongue is very slender, 

 and divided into two joints, which admit of its being 

 readily applied to sapid bodies. Their sense of touch is 

 probably obscure. They give many indications of high 

 instinct and sensibility, and have the faculty of existing 

 a long period without food. 



They have no voice, but a hiss, which is uttered softer 

 or stronger according to the exciting cause. It is exer- 

 ted exclusively in the declaration of their fiercer passions 

 the milder sensibilities are not accompanied by any 

 vocal annunciation. 



Serpents have great strength from the peculiar con- 

 struction of their body. They are very tenacious of life. 

 They have been, from alt antiquity, and in most coun- 

 tries, celebrated for their great cunning and sagacity; 

 which is chiefly displayed in their mode of evading their 

 enemies, or of obtaining their prey. Some serpents are 

 eminently noted for their brilliant colours, of which se- 

 veral display fine iridescent changes. It is a curious dis- 

 tinction of these animals, which has lately been made by 

 M. de la Borde, of Cayenne, that nearly all the species 

 of serpents of which the young are hatched within the 

 mother, and which are therefore born alive, are veno- 

 mous. 



