O F S E R P E N T S.. 85 



and other temperate Regions, and everywhere efteemed Enemies 

 to hurtful Serpents, and Friends to Mankind ; therefore were 

 confecrated to the divine EfadapiuSy that great and glorious Exem- 

 plar of Humanity.. 



XIX. The Diffas or Dipfacus is a little venemous ReptiFe 

 of the Afpick-kind *, lefs than a Viper, but kills fooner ; and is 

 moft remarkable in this, that when it bites, the Poifon brings an 

 unquenchable Thirfl on the Perfon affedted, who finding no Re- 

 lief, runs to the Water, and drinks till he burfts afunder -f. 



The Poetick Hiftorian obferves, how Aldus, an Enfign- 

 bearer in the Roman Army m Africa, wasllain by this Serpent j 

 at firft he felt little or no Pain from the Bite, but as foon as it be- 

 gan to operate, he was immediately fcorch'd ro death J, Gakn 

 calls this Serpent Diabetes, and jEpneta Dipfacus, from the in- 

 curable Thirfl; that accompanies its Bite: By others 'tis called Si" 

 tula, becaufe of the burning Heat caufed by the Wound. 



I T is about a Ciibit in Length, lives in fait Marlhes and £hal- 

 Jow Waters ; it dwells in Arabia, Rhodes, Africa, efpecially in 

 Lybia, where Ibme Branches of the venemous Family live on Ca-^ 

 mel's Flefb, and Locufts dried in the Sun. The more hot the 

 Climate, the more terrible the Wound, as it is in that hot Coun- 

 try, where they have no Springs, but a few fait Wells, which en- 

 creafe the animal Appetite of Thirft. The learned Venetian. 

 makes the Serpent D'pfas an Hieroglyphick of illicit LovCy. the Poi- 

 fon of which will, without timely Repentance, excite the Thirfl 

 oi Dves^ who wanted a Drop of Water to cool his fcorchedS 

 Tuagac |{. 



XX. Common Snake,. Thefe Serpents in their Summer-rambles 

 haunt among Bufhes, molTy Grounds, uliginous and unfrequent- 

 ed Situations. In a fultry Day they may be feen basking them- 

 felves in the Sun,, near their Apartments : The Sight of a Perfon 



puts 



* Some makeit of tKe vipenneSorr. One calls ft, Vtperafiticulofa. Vi^era fitem- 

 facentcs. Avicenna. Conrad. Gefner, p. 42. Inter ajfidem <^ vi^erain., fays ano"- 

 Sher. Ihid. \ AcceJJio Qyl/ii, cap. 47. 

 + •' •Sanguinis Aulam 



Torta caput retro Dipfas calcata momordit. 

 Vix dolor. __ p. 270. 



II Jia7t7iis VieriiVahriani Bellmen^iiBieroiljihicct^mm ColUSlamv., £?• 34:- Tii'i^- 

 ht} Ainoris ignes.- 



y 



