308 CLASS REPTILIA. 



out its natural enemies, an instinct which leads it to study 

 their manner, their character, their general means of injury, 

 and in short, all their habits and peculiarities. 



Under this point of view we shall now examine the ser- 

 pents, all of which are not dangerous, and which often, 

 without terror, as well as without peril, are contemplated 

 by the naturalist, who knows how to appreciate their power 

 and their arms, even when with sparkling eye, inflamed 

 mouth, and tooth upraised for death, they rear themselves 

 with dreadful hissings, and astound the vulgar with their 

 terrific glance. 



The sources of the evil to be dreaded from the serpent 

 race, we have already pretty well explained. We shall now 

 endeavour to point out the remedy, or rather to teach the 

 prevention of such evil, by an examination of the habits of 

 these animals. By knowledge of this kind, the curious tra- 

 veller may cross without risk, the desert waste and the marshy 

 wilderness, the entrance to which appears to be interdicted 

 by these formidable reptiles ; may repose himself under the 

 shade of forests which they appear to have unpeopled; may 

 catch by surprise the secrets of nature, and may possess him- 

 self of her riches even in the profound caverns which she seems 

 to have confided to the care of these redoubtable guardians. 



We shall, therefore, as far as existing materials will allow, 

 describe their general habits, notice the species which merit our 

 avoidance, point out the accidents which they occasion, and the 

 means, as far as they are known, of counteracting the terrible 

 effects resulting from the wounds which they inflict. 



Independently of the emblems which we have already 

 mentioned to have been furnished to the ancients by the 

 serpent tribe, there were some others, worthy of remark, as 

 shewing how accurately their habits and peculiarities were 

 observed by those whom modern conceit would term children 

 in science. The insinuating winding progress of the serpent, 



