OF SERPENTS. 



This little ftrange Animal affedts moift, cold and folitary 

 Habitations. In feme parts of Germany great numbers of them 

 have been found in a Body piled up, one upon another : They 

 are of the oviparous kind, and propagate their Species by Eggs, 

 the common Semen of Fowls and Infedis. 



They are Enemies to Frogs and the Tortoife, and feed on 

 little fmall Infedls; and when they have Accefs to Honey and 

 Milk, they never want a Feaft. 



I T is of a poifonous Nature, and many have fuffer'd by its 

 Biting ; fo fays Pliny., with whom agree Nicander, Aetius^ and 

 AbenJiTice. 



GESN RR is in a contrary Sentiment, and fays he had do- 

 meftick Salamanders^ that offered no violence with their Teeth 

 without Provocation. Jonjhnus adds, that in Germany there ap- 

 peared no ill EfFedls of its Bite ; but in France its Wounds were 

 of a moft deadly Nature, as appears by a Saying in that Kingdom. 

 •viz. 'that a Man bit by a Salatnander, Jhould have as many Phy~ 

 fxians to cure him, as the Salamander has Spots, which are 

 numerous *. 



The Aquatic Salamander is not very unlike the former, un- 

 lefs it be in Colour and Figure ; fome with a Tail turn'd up,, 

 others with a flat Tail, prominent in the middle : There are va- 

 rious forts of them ; one of which appears in the form of a Tur- 

 bot, whofe Eggs are as large as Garden-pears» 



When upon Land their Mouth will not open, unlefs it be 

 by Force, or they be caft into a Veflel of Water : When put 

 upon Salt, they move the Tail and die ; their Skin is clofe com- 

 pacted, and not penetrable by a Sword ; and 'tis faid that Swine's 

 Flefli is Poifon to them -f-. 



The common Report is, that the Salamander is able to live 

 in the Fire, which is a vulgar Error : The Hieroglyphick Hifto- 

 rian obferves, that upon Trial made, it was fo far from quench- 

 ing it, that it confum'd immediately^. It is true, {i\7X Newts 

 (or Water-lizards) Frogs, Snails, and fuch icy Animals, will 

 endure the Fire for a longer time than others will, by reafon of 



an. 



* tot meSeh indigere quot macit/as hefiia haiet, froverbio jaUaTit. Jonftonus ■ 



de Quadrupedibus, p. 1^7. 



■\ Jon f onus de S^uadruped. p. 158. 



X JoanTiis Pierii Hierogl. cap. 21— a6. p. tpj"*"^? 7' 



93 



