O F S E R P E N T a 127 



one, like Abel the Innocent ; the other, like Cain the Cruel : 

 An Emblem of the World, humane, angelic Animal, and Vege- 

 table, in which is a Mixture of Good and Evil. 



XCIX. The Red-back- Stiake, fo named from that Colour ; 

 a long, flender Snake, but not very common. A certain Surveyor 

 of Lands in Carolina happen'd to flep over one of thefe, v^^hich 

 he did not fee till his Servant fpy'd it : The Surveyor inquired of 

 the Indian that was along with him, Whether it was a very ve~ 

 nemoiis Serpent ? Who anfwer'd, That ij he had been wounded by 

 it, even the Indians the7nfehes, tho' expert in the Art of curing JeT" 

 pentine Wounds, could not have faved his Life *. 



Red, which is one of the primary Colours, proceeding from 

 the leaft refrangible Rays of Light, is a lively Emblem of Fire,, 

 or the fiery Venom, in this Serpent, whofe principal Quality is 

 to draw Blood. 



C. The Scorpio?i-Lizard; 'ti& commonly called fo, but is no 

 more like it than a Hedge-Hog : It is indeed of the Lizard Co- 

 lour, but much larger : Its Back of a dark copper Colour; the 

 Belly, in Orange; quick in its Motion on the Ground, and very 

 nimble in running up Trees ; has feveral Rows of Teeth, and is 

 reckoned to be of a very poifonous Nature. 



CI. The Long Black-Snake, is a land Animal, and very com- 

 mon. I have, iays my Author, kill' d feveral of them, full fx 

 Foot in length. Its Bite, tho' painful in its Confequences, is not 

 deem'd commonly mortal: the wounded Part fwelis, and turns 

 to a running Ulcer. No living Creature more nimble in Motion,. 

 or a greater Enemy to Mice, for it leaves not one of that Vermin 

 alive, wherever it comes. This Serpent kills the Rattle-Snake, 

 by tvvifting its Head about the Neck of that Snake, and whipping 

 her to death with its Tail. 



This Serpent very much haunts Dairy-houfes in thofe Coun- 

 tries, and makes very free with unguarded Milk-Pans, and Cream- 

 Pots: It delights to be among Hens, whofe Eggs it does not fuck,, 

 but fwallows them whole, as all Snakes do their Suftenance. It 

 will often fwallow the Egg under a fitting Hen, and then lie ia, 

 the Neil in the form of a Ring. 



5 All ow 



* Natural E'fiory of Carolina. 



