O F S E R P E N T S. 125 



leaft Bite of its Teeth proves mortal Poifon, without immediate 

 Application of fome fovereign Antidote*. 



XCIII. The kft he mentions, is a little Serpent, about (tvtn 

 Fingers in length, and terrible to the Eye. The Skin is embroi- 

 der'd with black Scales, that look fmooth and fleek as if it were 

 a Surface of Oil : It is furnifh'd with very fharp Teeth, fmall 

 Eyes, but fo weak that they can't long face the Light, no more 

 than a Frenchman can look Truth in the face, or a Spaniard the 

 Field of Battle. 



When this little venemous Animal apprehends any Danger, 

 it immediately digs into the Earth, with its five crooked and 

 ftrong Claws, that foon penetrate the Ground : 'tis guilty not only 

 of Evils among Beafls, but of great Devaftations in Orchards and 

 Gardens •f-. 



I Ha V E wondered, fays a learned Author, to fee with what 

 great Quicknefs, Art, and Strength, many Vefpce, Ichneumons'^., 

 wild Bees and Beetles, — perforate the Earth, yea, even Wood it* 

 felf;, but the moft remarkable in this way, is the Mole-Cricket X- 

 Swine, who dig in the Earth for their Food, have all parts of their 

 Head adapted for that Service, but rather more remarkable in the 

 Mole, whofe Neck, Eyes, Nofe and Ears are all' fitted in the. 

 niceft manner, to its fubterraneous way of Life. 



XCIV. The Ground Rattle-Snake, fo called, only becaufe it 

 refembles the real Rattle-Snake in Colour, but is fomewhat darker; 

 It never grows above twelve or fixteen Inches long j 'tis reckon'd 

 among the worft of Snakes, and of a hardy Nature, becaufe it. 

 keeps out of its Winter- Quarters the longeft of any. N B. This 

 Serpent and fome of the following ar-e taken out of the natural Hi- 

 Jlory of Carolina |[, a part oi' America belonging to England. The 

 Natives of that Country were of a larger Size than Europeans, . 

 and accounted fo faithful in their Promifes, and fo juft in their 

 Dealings, that they had no Words to exprefs Dijhone/ly, Fraud,. 

 or Cheating, What contributed chiefly to their honeft Simpli- 

 city, and plain Method of living, was tfxir Contempt of Riches ;; 

 were content with plain Food and Raiment, without being anxi- 

 cufly follicitous for to-morrow. 



XCV.. 



* Hij?orj/ of the Antilles. f Ray. % Herham Vh^f. Thcol. 

 \i Imhe aQW Co/leiiio^ of FojageVj 4tO; printed 171 1. 



