OFSERPENTS. 53 



and devouring her Brood in the Mother's abfence, who upon 

 her Return made a hideous clattering, which foon brought in its 

 Mate; whereupon both, with united Beaks, fell upon the Plun- 

 derer, and after a fliarp Engagement demo!i£h'd the Enemy. 



Fat her Fevillee in the Woods of the Ifland Martinique^ 

 " being frighted by a large Serpent, which he could not well 

 " avoid, his Dog immediately fell on, and took the Serpent 

 " by the Head : The Serpent furrounded him and prefs'd him 

 " fo violently, that the Blood came out of his Mouth; and 

 " yet the Dog never ceafed till he had entirely tore it to pieces. 

 " The Dog was not fenfible of his Wounds during the Fight, 

 " but foon after, his Head prick'd by the Serpent fwell'd prodi- 

 " gioufly, and he lay on the ground as dead ; but his Mailer hav- 

 " ing found hard by a Bananier, which is a very watry Tree, he 

 *' cured him with the Juice of it, and fome Treacle *." 



The Fiper is common in fome parts of Fra?ice, efpecially in 

 Daiipbiny or PoiSiou^ from whence all the Vipers come that are 

 fold in Paris. They are ufually taken with wooden Tongs, or 

 by the end of the Tail, which may be done without danger ; for 

 while held in that Poiition, they can't wind themfelves up to hurt 

 their Enemy. The Viper-Catchers have their Specificks, in which 

 they can fafely confide, as not to be afraid of being bitten ; which 

 they fay is the Fat of a Viper, immediately rubb'd into the Wound, 

 which is one of the moft venemous in the animal World, 



These Vipers are ufually put and kept in a Box with Bran 

 or Mofs ; not that thefe Ingredients ferve to feed upon, as fome 

 may fancy; becaufe 'tis faid, they ?iever eat after they are taken 

 and confin'd, but live on the Air, and will live fo, many Months: 

 But more hereafter. The DefmSlion of Vipers by human Spittle, 

 the Coition of the Marine with Lampreys, the pregnant Viper 

 biting off her Companion's Head, and the Revenge of it by the 

 Younglings — —I place among vulgar Errors. 



II. The Amodytes is a Serpent very venemous and fierce, of a 

 fandy Colour, blackSpots, and of about a Cubit long. The Wound 

 given by the Female, the weaker Veflel, is faid to be moft dan- 

 gerous : Its Jaws are larger than the common Vipers, and from 

 fome Eminencies upon the Head, like a Tuft of Flefli, is calkd 



Cornutus, 



* 



Fevillee s Jourval of the Thil. Math, avd Bot. Ohfir, 



