19S REPTILE S. 



foon fpreads, and interpofes a barrier which flops his purfult. rtefwim* 

 readily, even in agitated waves, in rivers, or arms of thefeai he mounts 

 the higheft trees with rapidity ; and, ftationed at various heights, often 

 waits in ambulh the approach of prey, leaping from tree to tree. Some 

 eat fifh, and all devour whatever they can conquer. A ftroke of his tail 

 will knock down a man. He devours tigers and cougars. His manner of 

 feeding, and condition after it, we have already noted : his inadlivity is 

 fo fixed, that travellers have walked over him (covered as he is 

 with leaves, &c.), or repofed upon him, without his moving; nor 

 has he given figns of life till the heat of their fire has reached him. Often 

 large animals are placed as baits for him, and he is knocked on the head 

 after his meal. The negroes eat his flefh, which they highly relifh. In 

 other countries they wear his fkin for clothing or ornament, as did the 

 heroes of antiquity. Sheds his fkin after the rainy feafon ; and then the 

 fexes feck each other. The egg from whence iffues this monfter, is but 

 two or three inches long, hatched by the fun's heat. Its length of life 

 unknown, probably very great 3 fince to reach his ordinary dimenfions, 

 muft require many years. 



There are others of this kind (for indeed it includes the largeft of the 

 ferpent tribe) ; but none equal, or nearly equal, in fize or voracity* 



THE RATTLE-SNAKE. 



TH E lion, by his roar, is not more terrific to the furprifed traveller, 

 than this fnake by his rattles and his fetid fmell ; his poifon is not lefs 

 deftruftive than that of the Naja. 



Is peculiar to America, which it inhabits from north to fouth. Some arc 

 as thick as a man's leg, and fix feet in length ; but their moft ufual fize 

 is from four to five feet long: tail four inches. In many particulars it 

 refembles the viper; having a fiatted head, covered near the nofe with 

 fix fcales, larger than their neighbours, difpofcd in three rows croiT- 

 wifc, two in each row. The throat is large ; the tongue black, thin, 

 forked ; partly covered, and very mobile and agitable. The two bones 

 of the fides of the jaws are not united in front, but admit of feparation? 

 its teeth turn backward, are largeft next the nofe ; their fangs refemble 

 thofe of the viper. The eye fparkles and jfhines in the dark; is fur- 

 nilhcd with a niditating membrane, that preferves it from dull. Its 

 J fcales 



