i86 REPTILES. 



the fnake arc not yet perfeft. After they have acquired life, they recciye 

 no leffons or cares from their parent, but are left folely to inftinft ; and 

 perhaps a fmall proportion reaches maturity. Their length of life is un- 

 known, but probably very long. Father Labat took a viper nine feet 

 long, and ordered it to be opened. In this creature were fix eggs, each 

 equal to a goofe egg, but longer, more pointed, and covered with a mem- 

 branous fliin, by which alfo they were united to each other. Each egg 

 contained from thirteen to fifteen young ones, about fix inches long, 

 and as thick as a goofe quill. Though the female from whence they 

 were taken was fpotted, the young feemed to have a variety of colours 

 very different from the parent ; and this led the traveller to fuppofe that 

 the colour was no charafteriftic mark among ferpents. Thefe animals 

 were no fooncr let loofe from the fhell, than they crept about, and put 

 themfelves into a threatening poflure, coiling themfelves up, and biting 

 the fl:ick with which he was deftroying them. In this manner he killed fe- 

 venty-four young ones. Thofe that were contained in one of the eggs 

 efcaped at the place where the female was killed, by the burfting of the 

 egg, and their getting among the bufhes. 



Though the generality of mankind regard this formidable race with 

 horror, yet there have been countries, and there are fome at this day, 

 that confider them with veneration. Their worfhip by the ancient Egyp- 

 tians is well known ; and many of the nations along the weftern coaft of 

 Africa retain the fame unaccountable veneration. On the gold and flave 

 coafts, a flranger, on entering the cottages of the natives, is furprifed to 

 fee the roof fwarming with ferpents, that cling there, unmolefting and 

 •unm6lefted by the natives. But his furprize increafes, farther fouth- 

 ward in the kingdom of Widah, when he finds that a ferpent is the god 

 of the country, has its habitation, its temple, and its priefts : and num- 

 bers are daily feen to offer not only their prayers, their goods, and their 

 provifions, at the Ihrine of their hideous deity, but alfo their wives and 

 daughters. 



Serpents may be diftinguifhed not only by their colours, but by the 

 number, form, fize, and arrangement of their fcales. 



I. The Adders, which have a fingle row of great fcales under the 

 belly, and two rows of leffer under the tail. This clafs includes the vi- 

 per, the afpic, and adders of various marks. 



II. Thofe which have a fingle row of great fcales under the belly, 

 and alfo under the tail. This fpecies includes the largeft. kinds. 



III. Thofe 



