386 % CERASTES. 



cesses, situated above the eyes, and pointing for- 

 wards: these horns have nothing analogous in 

 their structure to the horns of quadrupeds, and 

 are by no means to be considered in the light of 

 either offensive or defensive weapons : they in- 

 crease, however, the natural antipathy so generally 

 felt against the serpent tribe, and give the animal a 

 more than ordinary appearance of malignity. The 

 Cerastes is a native of many parts of Africa, and 

 is principally found in sandy deserts and dry 

 places. Its usual colour is a pale yellowish or 

 reddish brown, with a few rather large, distant, 

 round, or transversly oblong spots of a deeper 

 colour dispersed along the upper parts of the 

 body, the belly or under part being of a pale lead 

 colour. In Syria and Arabia the Cerastes is par- 

 ticularly frequent, and is also found in many parts 

 of Egypt, &c. It bears a very great affinity to 

 the common Viper, and its bite is perhaps still 

 more to be dreaded, since, exclusive of the gene- 

 ral danger of treading accidentally on this reptile, 

 and thus irritating it unawares, it is said to pos- 

 sess a propensity of springing with great sudden- 

 ness to a considerable distance, and assailing 

 without provocation those who happen to ap- 

 proach it. 



The general history and manners of this serpent 

 arc amply detailed by Mr. Bruce, who, in the 

 course of his travels, had frequent opportunities 

 of contemplating it in its native regions. 



"The Cerastes," says Mr. Bruce, " inhabits 

 the greatest part of the Eastern Continent, espe- 



