SERPENTS WITHOUT VENOM. 369 



These animals are only formidable from their similitude 

 to the viper; for, as they are all deficient, in fangs, they 

 cannot inflict a mortal bite : yet it is astonishing that any 

 of the race should be estimated ; for, though they may 

 not injure, they cannot prove pleasing to the sight. In 

 Italy, the Esculapian serpent is so great a favourite with 

 the inhabitants, that it is not only suffered to crawl 

 about their houses, but to get into their beds: this af- 

 fection may possibly arise from its utility, as it is a great 

 destroyer of the mice, with which that country so much 

 abounds. The boyuna of Ceylon, and the Surinam ser- 

 pent, are equally admired in those parts of the world : 

 the colours of the latter are extremely beautiful; and 

 their presence is thought to be the forerunner of some 

 good. At Japan, the prince of serpents is an universal 

 favourite ; but the gevenda of the East Indies is held 

 in still higher esteem ; the natives of Calicut pay it di- 

 vine honours ; and the skin is spotted over with the 

 liveliest colours that can be seen. 



The larger tribe of serpents have no beauty to recom- 

 mend them, as they are all of a dusky colour ; and, 

 though without fangs, they have teeth. The great 

 jiboya of Java is allowed to be the largest; and Legant 

 affirms he has seen one that measured fifty feet. 



The boiguacu is allowed to be the next in magnitude ; 

 it is thickest in the middle of the body, but decreases 

 towards the head and tail ; and, at the extremity of the 

 latter, there are two claws resembling those of a bird: a 

 chain of small black spots run the length of -the back ; 

 and in each jaw it has a double row of teeth : they gener- 

 ally lie concealed in thickets, from whence they dart out 

 with a hissing noise, and attack both men and beasts. 



To this class of large serpents we may add the depona 



B B 



