CHAP. V. DEFENCES OP REPTILES. 145 



the spines upon this part being capable of inflicting 

 severe wounds, and occasioning the flesh to mortify.* 



(164.) The defence of the tribe of snakes, generally 

 speaking, is passive. There seems to be an instinctive 

 horror, not only in man, but in all animals, against 

 coming into contact with these loathsome reptiles : 

 hence this feeling operates in their favour ; for the fear 

 of injury from their fangs generally counteracts our 

 inclination to destroy their life. But even the most 

 timid and humane persons cannot exempt themselves 

 from the spiteful malice of the serpent, " the most subtle 

 of all the beasts of the field." These reptiles enter our 

 very dwellings, and inflict their venom upon every 

 living thing which impedes their humour, or unin- 

 tentionally offends them. Whether we are to regard 

 the singular appendage at the tail of the rattlesnake 

 as an indirect means of defence, is uncertain ; it may, 

 probably, by its sound, excite a dread of the animal, by 

 intimating its approach, and thus act as a warning to 

 others, and an indirect means of defence to the serpent. 

 Besides the poisonous fangs, we meet with no other 

 offensive or defensive weapon in this class, besides a 

 small sting, not unlike that of the scorpion, which ter- 

 minates the tail of one or two genera belonging to the 

 Indies. The agility of lizards is proverbial, and both 

 them, and the frog, are destitute of any defence ; both, 

 however, are cautious and wary ; for lizards are par- 

 ticularly timid, and frogs generally lie concealed, during 

 the day, beneath the dark foliage of rank vegetation. 

 There are few animals in creation so incapacitated 

 from active defence, and yet so protected from injury, 

 as the tortoise. Yet how beautifully has the Creator 

 defended this almost helpless reptile from the attacks of 

 its enemies ; unable to sting, destitute of teeth, and 

 proverbially the slowest of the slow, the tortoise is, 

 nevertheless, able, in a moment, to defy the attacks of 

 almost all other animals. He is incased with armour 

 of proof. He is his own citadel. He has only to 



* Williamson, vol. ii. p. 73. 

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