OF SERPENTS. ii 



fiderable Bulk; for in its Encounters with great Dogs, Crocodiles, 

 Serpents, &c. it generally comes off vidlorious: Upon their Ap- 

 proach it bunches up, and briltles up its Hair, in token of De- 

 fiance: It couches on the Ground, and leaps like a Bull-dog at 

 its Prey. 



By fome it is call'd the Egyptian Otter-, 'tis of a dun Colour, 

 has round Ears, black Legs, and long Tail : It cannot endure the 

 Wind, and runs for Shelter, when it rifes, fometimes thrufting 

 its Head between its hinder Legs, in a round Form like a Hedge- 



Those who have examined into Kites Nefts, have found 

 Vipers in them, which are fuppofed to be Food for their young 

 ones. In China is a little Creature like a Weezel, called Magaure, 

 that is a mortal Enemy to Serpents, which it kills by ftriking its 

 Teeth into their Heads. The Chameleon trembles at the Sight of 

 this little Furiofo *; whofe Ears are fhort and round, its Nofe 

 like that of a Ferret, its Tongue and Teeth like a Cat, whicii 

 is a Creature it deftroys in a Minute, though not the eafieft to be 

 killed. The Argoli Serpents in Ltdia deftroy Afps; therefore 

 by Alexander the Great's Command, they were tranlported to 

 Alexandria -f*. 



Whether the Serpent hates Man more than other Cre- 

 ( tures, is with me a queftion; be that as it will, it is wonderful 

 to think, that notwithftanding Man's and other Creatures invin- 

 cible Hatred of Serpents, yet hitherto they have been able to fup- 

 port themfelvesin a State of War againft all the World. 



Even among Vegetables are found Enemies to Serpents; as 

 the Dittafzy of Virginia, or the wild Penfiy-royal; the Leaves of 

 which, fays my Author, being bruifed, we tied in the Cleft of a 

 long Stick, and held them to the Nofe of the Rattle-Snake, who 

 by turning and wriggling, laboured hard to avoid it, and in half 

 an hour's time was kill'd by it: This was done yuly 1657, at 

 which Seafon thofe Creatures are computed to be in the greateft 

 Vigour of their Foifon; it is alfo remarkable, that in thofe Places 

 where the wild Penny-royal grows, no Rattle-Snakes are obferved 

 to come II . 



* L. LeComtes Memoirs, p. 504, f Johnjlonus, p. 16. || Philof. TranfaH., 



abridg'd by Lowthorp, p. 8 1 1 . 



C 2 SEC- 



