ORDER II. OPHIDIA.— SERPENTS. 13 
variety of their bringing forth is rather a slight than a real discrimination. 
The only difference is, that the viper hatches her eggs, and brings them to 
maturity within her body; the snake is more premature in her productions, 
and sends her eggs into the light some time before the young ones are capa- 
ble of leaving the shell. Thus, if either are opened, the eggs will be found 
in the womb, covered with their membranous shell, and adhering to each 
other like large beads on a string. In the egg of both, the young ones will 
be found, though at different stages of maturity; those of the viper will 
crawl and bite, the moment the shell that encloses them is broken open ; 
those of the snake are not yet arrived at their perfect form. 
Father Labat took a Serpent, of the viper kind, that was nine feet long, 
and ordered it to be opened in his presence. He then saw the manner in 
which the eggs of these animals lie in the womb. In this creature there 
were six eggs, each of the size of a goose eve, but longer, more pointed, 
and covered with a membranous skin, by which also they were united to 
each other. Each of these eges contained from thirteen to fifteen young 
ones, about six inches long, and as thick as a goose quill. These little, 
mischievous animals were no sooner let loose from the shell, than they crept 
about, and put themselves into a threatening posture, coiling themselves up, 
and biting the stick with which he was destroying them. In this manner 
he killed seventy-four young ones; those that were contained in one of the 
eges escaped at the place, where the female was killed, by the bursting of 
the egg, and their getting among the bushes. 
The. last distinction that we shall mention, but the most material among 
Serpents, is, that some are venomous, and some inoffensive ; but not above 
a tenth of their number are actually venomous. 
From the noxious qualities in the Serpent kind, it is no wonder that not 
only man, but beasts and birds, carry on an unceasing war against them. 
The ichneumon of the Indians, and the peccary of America, destroy them 
in great numbers. These animals have the art of seizing them near the 
head; and it is said that they can skin them with great dexterity. The 
vulture and the eagle also prey upon them in great abundance ; and often, 
sousing down from the clouds, drop upon a long Serpent, which they snatch, 
struggling and writhing, in the air. Dogs, also, are bred up to oppose them. 
Father Feuillée tells us that, being in the woods of Martinico, he was 
attacked by a large Serpent, which he could not easily avoid, when his dog 
immediately came to his relief, and seized the assailant with great courage. 
The Serpent entwined him, and pressed him so violently, that the blood 
came out of his mouth, and yet the dog never ceased till he had torn it in 
pieces. The dog was not sensible of his wounds during the fight ; but, soon 
after, his head swelled prodigiously, and he lay on the ground as dead. But 
