O F S E R P E N T S. 123 



LXXXVII. To \htk Americans I add the Sfdlio, which Mr. 

 Jiay calls the Jwift, ox fpotted Lizard^ whofe Body makes a glo- 

 rious Appearance, by glittering Spots, that when it makes its Pa- 

 rade, looks like a little moveable Firmament of Stars : This Ser- 

 pent is pretty common in Thrace^ Sicily, and Syria *. 



'T I s faid of this Animal, that it cafts its Skin and eats it a- 

 gain ; and if fo, 'tis a proper Emblem of defultory Creatures, 

 who leave their Vices for a time, and return to them afterwards -}-. 



Among Serpents is fuch Variety of charming Colours, and 

 Figures, that if it were not for the natural Antipathy that we 

 have for them, perhaps there is not one thing that the Eye could 

 take greater Delight in. 



Besides the above Lacertick Serpents of Brazil, RochefortX, 

 a French Author, mentions other Serpents different from thefe, 

 which come next under Confideration. 



LXXXVIII. The Les Amies, a Serpent in bignefs like the 

 Gallick Lizards, but of a longer Head ; of a yellow Skin, like a 

 Sun-burnt Roujfilonite, or the Savage Man in the Ifle of Borneo j 

 RufTet Back, channel'd with green ; of an afhy or cineraceous 

 Colour J a boifterous noify Animal. It's generally in motion by- 

 Day, and by Night, lodges in hollow places, where it joins With 

 the Brotherhood, in difturbing the Neighbours with hideous 

 Croakings : by the loudnefs of its Noife, it fliould feem that it had 

 but an empty Noddle. 



LXXXIX. LES ROQUET, a Serpent of a ruddy Colour, 

 intermix'd with black and yellow Points: of fparkling Eyes, and 

 majeftick Mien, walking in a ftately manner with Head eredl ; 

 and fkipping about like a Bird, or a French Beau, who was faid 

 to make a Solecifm with his Hand, when he made a falfe Geflure 

 on the Stage. 



XC The Maboujas, a word that lignifies a Devil in the I?i- 

 dian Language, and given to this Serpent, becaufe in its Nature 

 it is mofl malignant and mifchievous: It lives in fenny Ground, 



R 2 and 



* 'Ray, p. 265:. ^Grew^s Cofmohgia Sacra. 



X Hijiory of the AntUles-IJlanch. 



