OF SERPENTS. 15 



and a half, it mufl be a monftrous Animal *. — — ^ In the 

 Reign of Philadelphus, two Live- Dragons were brought from 

 Ethiopia to Alexandria, one 13, the other 14 Cubits long. In 

 the Reign of King Eiiergetes, they took three Dragons, one ibren 

 Cubits, the other nine Cubits long. The third was carefully 

 nurfed in the Temple of Efculapitis, and no Creature fo highly 

 reverenced -j-. 



O N the Pellonceoii Hill in Chins, was a Dragoon whofe hideous 

 Noife filled the Vicinity with Horror and Dread; fo terrible, 

 that none durft approach fo near as to take its Dimenfions. It 

 happened, the Wilderneis wherein it lived, took fire in a Storm; 

 and being involved in the Smoke and Fire, itperiflied, and, upon 

 viewing its Bones, 'twas concluded to be of a monftrous Bulk. 

 Ibid. 



The Ethiopian Dragons ju{\. mentioned, have no proper Name, 

 and are only known by a Periphrafis, viz. Killers of Elephants, 

 The Method is, by winding themfelves about the Elephaiits Legs, - 

 and then thrufi:ing their Heads up their Noftrils, fling them, and 

 fuck their Blood till they are dead, 



ALEXANDER, in his Tour thro' the Red-Sea, fays, 

 he faw Serpents of incredible Magnitude, fome about 30 Cubits 

 long+. 



We read of monftrous Dragons, particularly two Draconic 

 Monfters mentioned by Alexanders Ambafiadors, feen by them 

 in their Return from the Kingdom oi Abifaris, one of 80 Cubits 

 long, the other 140 |]. 



I N Places adjacent to Bafavia, a Dutch Settlemennt in the Eajl- 

 Jndies, we read of Serpents 50 Feet long; and the Skin of one, 

 which was 20 Feet long, that fwallowed an Infant, is fhewn in 

 Batavia, the Metropolis of the Dutch Empire in the Eaji-Indies. 

 In Ajiierica alfo are Serpents of prodigious Bulk, from 25, to 3a 

 Feet^long-j-; but this Subjedl will be further confidered in the 

 Second Part of this Book. 



On the other hand, there are Serpents, as remarkably little as 

 the Amphijbcena, Gallic Viper, and feme of the Lizards, that are 



not 



* Gefner, p. 44. f JEUanA. 16. c. 39. p. 957. t Ml'ian^ lib. 17, 



cap. I. II Strabo, de fitu orbis, lib. 15. jiiuaapx^if^a. Bifciri,3.]m Jbijari Reglo. 

 f Atlas American. 



