CHAP. XIV. LIZARDS. THE ASP. 237 



that it is imbued with an accurate knowledge of 



what will come to pass Moreover the eggs 



it lays are sixty in number, as are the days which 

 pass before they are hatched, and the years of those 

 which live the longest; a number of great import- 

 ance to those who occupy themselves in astrono- 

 mical matters." 



Julian* mentions the same number of eggs, the 

 sixty days before they are laid, and the same period 

 before they are hatched. He also gives them sixty 

 vertebrae in their spine, and as many nerves, a life 

 of sixty years, a mouth with this proportion ot 

 teeth, and a period of annual torpidity and fasting 

 during the same number of days. It is from this 

 number that lamblichus thinks the crocodile con- 

 nected with the Sun.t 



The mummies of crocodiles are found at Thebes, 

 Maabdeh, and other places, many of which are of 

 full size and perfectly preserved. 



LIZARDS. 

 Of the Lizard tribe t none but the crocodile seems 

 to have been sacred. Those which occur in the 

 hieroglyphics are not emblematic of the Gods, nor 

 connected with religion. 



The Asp. 



I have already spoken of the choice of this ser- 

 pent as an emblem of Neph§, and as a symbol of 



* TElian, x. 21. Conf. Aristot. Hist. An. v. 

 f Vide supra, p. 36. and 233. 



j Vide Plin. viii. 25. Vide supra, p. 156., of the Battle Oi" the Monitor 

 and Snake. 



§ Supra, p. 64, ; and Vol. I. (2d Series) p. 239, 240. 413, 



