566 amphibiala; 



It remains to be added, that the siren, if thrown on the ground 

 with any degree of violence, lias been observed to break in two or 

 three places ; in this particular resembling the anguis frigalis, or 

 slow-worm. It is also proper to observe, that no lizard of which it 

 may be supposed the larve, has ever yet been discovered in those 

 parts of Carolina where it is most frequent. The species to which 

 it seems most allied is the lacerta teguixin of Linnaeus, which is a 

 native of South America. 



[Sham. Schneider, Camper, Ellis, 



SECTION VIII. 



Rattle-Snake 

 Crotalus horridus. Linn. 



The genus crotalus, or rattle-snake, affords the most signal ex- 

 amples of the powerfully destructive poison with which some of the 

 serpent tribe are furnished ; instances having frequently occurred in 

 which the bite of these snakes has proved fatal to mankind in the 

 space of even a very few minutes. 



Till the discovery of the western hemisphere, the knowledge of 

 these serpents was concealed from the rest of the world, and philo- 

 sophers then first beheld, with amazement, a reptile of the most 

 fatal nature, furnished, as if by a peculiar institution of providence, 

 with an instrument capable, in general, of warning mankind of their 

 danger in too near an approach. 



The different species of rattle-snakes seem to have been generally 

 confounded with each other 5 and even Catesby, who travelled in 

 those parts of North America where it is found, seems to have been 

 unacquainted with one of the most remarkable species, and to have 

 particularly described the banded rattle-snake only, which he has 

 also figured with sufficient clearness to prevent its being confounded 

 with any other kind, though not with that minute attention to all the 

 particulars which the more improved state of Natural History at 

 present demands. 



This species is found, in general, from three to four or five feet 

 in length, and is of a yellowish brown colour, marked throughout 

 its whole length, with several transverse and somewhat irregular 

 fasciae of deep brown ; ^uid from the head, to some distance down 



