112 A NATURAL HISTORY 



The firft Rudiments m Pythagoras's School, was, ^dnquennice. 

 Silence. The Scholars were not allow'd to talk for five Years, 

 that is, till they had learned the Art of Silence. Harpocrates was 

 the God of Silence, therefore painted with his Finger on his Lip, 

 and was worfhipped in Egypt with Ifis and Serapis. 



AN GERO NA was the Goddefs of Silence at Rome, and 

 painted with a Cloth about her Mouth. Nor is it lefs venerable 

 at Venice, where after they come out of the Senate-houfe, they 

 are as filent about what was faid and done, as if they had power 

 to forget all that was faid and done. 



To the above-mention'd Serpents, the learned Mr. Ray adds, 

 by way of Supplement, a Catalogue of fifteen Raft-Indian Ser- 

 pents, which he had from the Learned Dr. Tancred Robirfon, 

 whole Defcriptions he had from the College at Ley den, which I 

 fhall annex to the foregoing *. 



LVIII. SERPENS Indicus Coronatus^ an Indian Serpent, 

 that makes its Appearance with a crowned Head, which it holds 

 up on high, as if proud of the Honour. This is an Emblem of 

 Pride, that Dropfy of the Mind ; to yield to its Thirft, is to 

 fvvallow the Bait, that turned the Seraph into a Devil. 



The Remedy ufed by the Indians for its Wounds, is what 

 they call the Serpent-Stone, which, according to Thevenot and 

 others, is an artificial Compofition, and not taken out of this 

 Serpent's Head. 



LIX. V I P E RA Indica tricolor ?najor, a Serpent remarkable 

 for a Body decorated with three fine Colours, the Liveries of 

 Summer's Pride, but living much under ground, the Glories of 

 its Attire are buried in the Earth, the World's material Mould. 



LX. V I P E R A Zelanica minor maculis elegajiter variegata^ 

 a Serpent elegantly garniflied with a Variety of charming Colours: 

 It is an Inhabitant of Ceylon, an liland in the Eajl-Indies, called 

 by the Inhabitants Tenarifain, that is the Land of Delights, and 

 not without reafon is this Ifland fo called, fince it is the moft 

 fruitful place in India, producing Gold, Silver, Precious Stones, 

 plenty of Rice, Ananas, Cocoas, belt Oranges, Lemons, Figs, 



Pome- 



'R^yi Syno^ps Animaliinn, p. 350. 



