35 



dure it, without being destroyed in a few minutes, 

 But some years ago, the trial was made by several 

 gentlemen, whether it could really live in fire. Some 

 charcoal was kindled, and the animal laid upon the 

 burning coals. Immediately it emitted a blackish 

 liquor, which entirely quenched them. They lighted 

 more coals, and laid it upon them. It quenched them 

 a second time in tKe same manner. But being pre- 

 sently laid on a fresh fire, it was in a short time burnt 

 to ashes. 



In many parts of Lower Egypt, there is a kind 

 of lizard termed Oocaral. It resembles a crocodile 

 only that it is but three or four feet long, and lives 

 wholly on the land. As it is exceeding fond of the 

 milk of ewes and she-goats, it makes use of a re 

 markable expedient. It twists its long tall round 

 the leg of the ewe or goat, and so sucks her at his 

 leisure. 



In most parts of Italy, there are swarms of lizards, 

 especially of the green kind. In the spring hun. 

 dreds of them are seen, basking on the roofs, and 

 crawling up and down the walls of houses. They 

 are very nimble, and have a bright sleek skin, and 

 beautiful eyes, but are entirely harmless. The Scor- 

 pions are not so, they harbour not only in old walls and 

 under stones, but in every part of the house, espe- 

 cially the beds ; and if touched, immediately sting, 

 The sting of an Apulian scorpion, has the same ef- 

 fect with the bite of a tarantula. And it requires the 

 same method of cure, only. by different instruments, 

 the flute and bagpipe in particular, with the brisk 

 beat of a drum. But the common remedy agamst the 

 sting of a scorpion is, to bruise 'the animal, and bind 

 it on the wound. 



6. With regard to water-lizards, commonly called 

 Newts, which most people suppose to be venomous, 

 they are harmless as land-lizards, and are found in 

 summer, in most shallow, standing waters. One who 

 kept several of them in glass jars for many months 

 c 6 



