12t> NOTES AMD 



that part of the ground over which it has just gone, it proves fatal. Bancroft 

 states, in a note to his work before referred to, that a similar kind of amphisbaena 

 was found near a bay in Lake Champlaia, in this state ;^bnt I shall give the account 

 in his own words. " Since these sheets were sent to the press I have received a 

 particular description of a monstrous amphisbaena, found near Lake Champlain, 

 in North America, by an officer in the american service, who, with one of his 

 majesty's draughts men, was, during the late war, sent to make a survey of 

 that lake. They were previously informed by the indians of the existence of 

 these serpents, one of which they killed near a bay in Lake Champlain, which, 

 'ift the maps of that country, has been since called Double-Headed Snake Bay. 

 This c erpent was a small one of the kind, it being about fifteen inches in 

 length, and largest near the middle, terminating in a slender tail. The body 

 at the 'ether end, divided into two necks of equal size, to each of which was 

 joined a perfect head, with two eyes, a large mouth and throat, a forked tongue, 

 with teeth of the same species with those of the rattlesnake. The colour of the 

 heads was a dark brown, and the scales on the back and side were variegated 

 with alternate spots of dark and reddish brown colours, in magnitude and dispo- 

 sition resembling those of the rattlesnake. This serpent was a perfect monster, of 

 whose existence I should strongly doubt, did I not think the veracity of the gen- 

 tleman from whom I have this information, and by whom it was actually killed, 

 unquestionable.'* 



The frontispiece of Bancroft's book contains a print of this serpent, and under 

 it is inscribed, 



44 This snake was found near Lake Champlain, in the year 1761, by lieutenant 

 Moses Park." 



This account is thus confirmed by the concurrent testimony of Carver : 



44 The two-headed snake. *lie only snake of this kind that was ever seen in 

 America was found about the year 1762, near Lake Champlain, by mr. Park, a 

 gentleman of New-England, and made a present to lord Amherst. It was about 

 A foot long, and in shape like the common snake, but it was furnished with two 

 heads exactly similar, which united at the neck." 



As this account relates to the Natural History of this state, ami the author is 

 Te?pectable, I have thought it sufficiently interesting to insert it with this inter- 

 rogatory : Is there a bay on Lake Champlain which bears the name of Double- 

 Headed Snake Bay ? 



Since writing the above I have seen a specimen of the false amphisbsena in 

 Seudder's museum. It was presented to the proprietor of that establishment by 

 dr. Mitchill, to whom it was given by dr. Ross, who procured it in Jamai- 

 ca. It is about eight inches lens;, and each extremity has the appearance of '* 

 bead, 



