92 A NATURAL HISTORY 



of War, makes diredlly at the Enemy, without drea d of Confe- 

 quences. 



In the Hiflory of Peru, an Account is given of a youn-g Wo- 

 man who was wounded by a Rattle-fnake, and died on the Spot, 

 before any ReUef could be hadj and when they came to take up 

 the Corpfe, the Flefh came off her Bones; fo fpeedily did the 

 violence of the Poifon diffolve the ftrucflure of the Body. 



The method of killing this Snake, is thus given by Captain 

 Silas Taylor, viz. Of the Leaves of Dittany of Virgi?iia [i. e. 

 wild Penny-royal) bruis'd, we took, fays he, and having faften'd 

 them at the end of a cloven Stick, we held it to the Nofe of the 

 Rattle-fnake, who by turning and wriggling, labour'd hard to avoid 

 it ; but was kill'd with it in lefs than half an Hour's time, and as 

 is fuppofed by the meer Scent of that Vegetable *. This was done 

 A. D. i6^j, in July, at which Seafon thofe Creatures are re- 

 puted to be in the greateft Vigour for their Poifon : It is alfo re- 

 markable, that in thofe Places where this wild Penny-royal 

 grows, none of thefe Snakes are obferved to come -f-. 



The bruifed Leaves of the Virginian Dittany are very hot, and 

 biting upon the Tongue : Probably the ftrong Smell of it might 

 flop the PafTages of Refpiration in thofe Animals, or ferment 

 with the Blood, fo as to fuffocate them. In Grejhajn College at 



LoJidon may be feen fifteen Skins of Rattle-fnakes checker'd 



Some appear in Afh-colour: Several Rattles of thofe Snakes, 

 moft of them compofed of above ten Joints. 



XXVIII. The Salamander is an amphibious Serpent, very 

 much fpotted ; fuperior in Bulk to common Lizards. 



The Land-Salamander is a little poifonous Reptile, that re- 

 fcmbles the green Lizard, but more grofs in Body ; and. is found 

 in Germany and other Places. 



CONRADUS Geftier, fays he faw one of 'em on the Alps 

 perfedly black, with a fliortTail: When wounded, a kind of 

 milky Liquid runs out. In Germa?iy are feveral great Woods, 

 where black Salamanders, have been feen ; Tejie MatthioloX. 



This 



* Regnau/ty vo]. ii. from Journ. des Scav. i6()d. p. 113. Lou'ZAi^rp's Abridg. of 

 Philof Tranfad:. vol. ii. p. 81 1. f Ibid. 



X Jonfiofius ds ^adrufedihus, p. 1 3 7- 



