54- A NATURAL HISTORY 



Comutus. Its Wounds prove fatal wnhout a fpeedy Cure. It is 

 found in Lybia, a Limb of Africa, and alfo in Illyricum, and in 

 fome parts of Italy *. 



This Serpent is called Corniifus, a horned Beaft -f-. Of this 

 Form, is a numerous Herd ; we read, that in the Roman Army 

 was a Band of Foot Soldiers called Cornuti. 



Upon the Continent o^ America are Bulls and Cows, that 



have no Horns, fays Dr. Ch. Leigh who adds, " The Defedl 



" of Horns in theie Beafts, brings into my mind a remarkable 

 " Phenomenon of one Alice Green^ whofe Pidture I have feen in 

 " Whalley-Abby, in Lancajhire. This Woman had tivo Horns 

 " which grew out of the back-part of her Head j they grew 

 " backwards like thofe of Rams, and were about three Inches 

 " long i thefe fhe caft once in thr^e Years, and had always into- 

 " lerable Pains, before the Horns broke out :{:. " 



He might have mentioned another innocent Creature, on 

 whofe Head a treacherous Companion inoculates a Scion, which 

 intitles him to the Title of Cuckold, a word derived from Cuckows, 

 who having no Beds of their own, invade their Neighbour's. Of 

 the Cuckow 'tis faid, that having no Neft, fhe takes polfeflion of 

 ibme other Bird's Neft, deftroys the Eggs, and lays in it an Egg 

 of her own, which the innocent Bird brings forth and nurfes for 

 its own j|. 



III. The Cerajles is a Serpent of the viperine Kind ; its Head 

 refembles the Cornigerous; it belongs to the Libya?! and Nubia?! 

 Family : Ita Teeth are like thofe of the Viper, and it brings its 

 Succeflbrs into the World after the fame manner. 



Its Conftitution is very dry, which refines and exalts its Poi- 

 fon, and makes it more dangerous ; the Wound is generally at- 

 tended with Diftra6lion, and continual pricking as with Needles, 

 Some fay, 'tis of a whitifli Colour, others arenaceous; it loves 

 fandy Habitations, where it often furprifes the unwary Traveller : 

 And all agree 'tis of a moft cruel Nature ; and therefore in fome 

 places 'twas made the Executioner of Malefadlors **, as the Juice 



of 



* Cimitatu iwprimit Goritienfi ittve-riitur. — Hay. 

 f Lucan. ipharfal. ]ib. ix. 



t His Natural Hifiory of Lanca.fJjirc, Book ii. p. ■5. _ _ . 



II Dr. l^i/hiighby-, who writ rhe Hiftory oir' Birds, affirms this Account of the 

 Cuctcow to be true upon his own Knowledge, according to Mr. Ray. 



** Nunc pjtes aClutum !Kjidiatore-nqne Cerajlen — Non is corpus hahet, fed quatuoT 

 Aut duo (rofcr.t Cornua. Nicander ja Ther. 



