210 GENERAL AVERSION TO SNAKES, 



and pernicious, seem to be viewed with horror and 

 aversion by mankind. This horror, from the knowledge 

 of their power of inflicting harm in countries where 

 such kinds are found, is natural, and often preservative 

 of life ; but the aversion generally felt, and that shud- 

 dering occasionally noticed at the sight of our harmless 

 snake, is like a deep-rooted principle. We imbibe in 

 infancy, and long retain in remembrance the impression 

 of injuries from the wiles of the serpent ; and the 

 "enmity between it and the seed of the woman" ap- 

 pears still in full operation, and is possibly more exten- 

 sively and insensibly diffused among mankind than we 

 are aware of. The harmless nature of our snake seems 

 to be fully known to the little birds of the hedge, as 

 they in no way give intimation of its presence by any 

 warning of avoidance to their young, or that insulting 

 vociferation so observable when any really injurious 

 creature is perceived, but hop and sport about the bask- 

 ing snake without fear or notice. 



All the human race seem to have inherited the origi- 

 nal anathema against this creature ; for though the 

 capricious cruelty of man is very frequently exerted 

 to the injury of many that his power enables him to 

 tyrannize over, yet the serpent appears to be a peculiar 

 object of his enmity, as if it was understood to be an 

 absolute duty to " bruise his head," whenever the oppor- 

 tunity should be afforded. 



It is very remarkable how few noxious creatures, 

 animals which annoy man, inhabit with us ; beasts and 

 birds we have none, for the petty depredations occa- 

 sionally made on his property are undeserving of atten- 

 tion. The gnat, and perhaps a few insects, may at times 

 puncture our skin, but the period of action is brief, the 

 injury only temporary. The wasp and the hornet, I 

 believe, very rarely use their weapons wantonly, only 

 in self-defence and when persecuted ; thus leaving the 

 balance incalculably in favor of innocency and harm- 

 lessness. But of all the guiltless beings which are met 

 with, we have none less chargeable with criminality than 

 the poor slow-worm*(anguis fragilis), yet none are more 

 frequently destroyed than it included as it is in the 



* See note CC, appendix. 



