396 CERASTES. 



feats as those who possessed the exemption natu- 

 rally : the drugs were given me, and I several 

 times armed myself, as I thought, resolved to try 

 the experiment ; but my heart always failed me 

 when I came to the trial ; because among these 

 wretched people it was a pretence they might very 

 probably have sheltered themselves under, that I 

 was a Christian, and that therefore it had no effect 

 upon me. I have still remaining by me a small 

 quantity of this root, but never had an opportu- 

 nity of trying the experiment." 



The Cerastes often makes its appearance among 

 the numerous hieroglyphic figures on the various 

 remains of Egyptian antiquity ; and is particularly 

 conspicuous on a pair of large sculptured stones 

 brought from Alexandria, and preserved in the 

 British Museum, and which, probably, made a 

 part of the cornice of some magnificent temple. 



This animal, like some other poisonous serpents, 

 is supposed to be viviparous. 



The admirable figure of the Cerastes, in the 

 Appendix to Mr. Bruce's Travels, is deserving of 

 the highest commendation, and infinitely sur- 

 passes every prior representation of the animal. It 

 is, therefore, on account of its superior merit, se- 

 lected for the present publication. 



