REPTILES. 



87 



The third order of reptiles is named Ophidia^i, and in- 

 cludes the serpents. It was well observed by Linnsus, 

 that if Nature has thrown these repulsive creatures naked 

 upon the earth, destitute of limbs, and exposed to every 

 injury, she has, in return, supplied them with a deadly 

 poison, the most terrible of all weapons. From the earUest 

 ages they have been regarded either as objects of unmingled 

 horror, or of superstitious and fearful veneration, by the 

 human race. 



The poison of these subtle reptiles seems to produce 

 death under a variety of aspects. A universal torpor and 

 lethargy, without pain, was said to follow the bite of the 

 asp. Hence its preference by Cleopatra. This fact, though 

 doubted by medical observers, seems, in some measure, 

 confirmed by the examples adduced by Captain Gowdie, in 

 Dr. Russel's splendid publication." Lucan distinguishes 

 the poisonous serpents that infested the march of the Ro- 

 man army over the deserts of Libya by the various symp- 

 toms which they produced ; but his dreadful catalogue 

 should perhaps be regarded rather as a piece of poetical 

 embellishment than as an historical relation. At all events, 

 it seems now decided that, however the symptoms may 

 vary, the nature and action of the poison is the same in all, 

 and is to be counteracted, in most cases, by the same means. 

 The virulence of the bite of individuals of the same species 

 varies according to the season of the year, just as their 

 manners and external aspect also vary, according to the 

 beautiful description in the Georgics : — 



" Postquam exhausta pains, terrsqne ardore dehiscunt ; 

 Exilit ill siccum, et flammanlia lumina torquens 

 SiE^it agris, asperque siti, atque exterritus aestiu 

 IS'e mihi lum molles sub dio carpere somnos, 

 Neu dorso nemoris libeat jacuisse per herbas : 

 Ciim positis novus exuviis, nitidusque juveiita, 

 Volvilur, aut catulos lectis aut ova relinquens, 

 Arduus ad Solein, ct lUiguis micat ore trisulcis." 



Lib. iii. I. 4S2. 



description of it to Dr. Magliabechi, librarian to the Grand-duke of 

 Tuscany : several fine copies of verses were wrote on so rare a subject ; 

 but at last Mr. Bobart owned the cheat ; however, it wa.s looked upon as 

 a masverpiece of art, and as such deposited in the Museum, or Anatomy 

 School, where I saw it some years after." The curious in dragons may 

 consult the works of Gesner Aldrovandus. 

 * Account of Indian Serpents. 



