706 



REPTILIA— EGYPTIAN VIPER. 



ed frontwise, looks like a pair of spectacles ; but behind, like the head of a 

 cat. The eyes are fierce, and full of fire ; the head is small, and tlie nose 



flat, though covered with very large scales, of a yellowish ash color ; the skin 

 is white, and the large tumor on the neck is flat, and covered with oblong, 

 smooth scales. 



THE EGYPTIAN VIPER. i 



iHTS is said to be the officinal viper of the Egyptians, and is, by some, 

 supposed to be the asp of Cleopatra, by the bite of which that high-spirited 

 princess determined to die rather than submit to be carried to Rom.e in 

 order to grace the triumph of Augustus. It is imported in considerable 

 quantities every year to Venice, for the use of the apothecaries in ili^ com- 

 position of theriaca, and for other purposes. It is abundant in Egy[ ' : and 

 is found in other parts of Africa as well as in Asia. It is from ■: vcnty 



' Naia haje, Lin. 



