132 A NATURAL HISTORY 



CIX. The Izicatlinan Serpent, called the Mother of Ants, 

 becaufe it lodges in their Apartments, and other warm Situations. 

 We read of Ants in the Eaji-Indies that build their Houfes above 

 Ground, and with the Jineji Clay, of which the People make 

 their Idols ; their little Houfes are like ftrong Butts, hollow with- 

 in, where they dwell, and breed in Nefhs like Honey-combs. 



The Butts prefent to my view the Bow and Arrows in the 

 Hands of the Parthians, who were efteemed the beft Archers in the 

 world, and very defervedly, haviiig the A^-t of foootiiig backwards, 

 and making their Retreat more terrible than their Charge : Whence 

 that of Seneca *, T^he Parthians Flight does mojl affright. The 

 manner of their Fight is defcrib'd by the Poet, who fays, They 

 were better Soldiers when they run away., and fought bejl when fur - 

 theji off, trufling 7noJl to the Bow ■\. 



M. CRASSUS, in his Expedition againfl them, being told 

 by an Aftrologer it would be unprofperous, becaufe of fome ill 

 Afpedl in Scorpio : Huff Man, quoth he, 1 fear jiot Scorpio, 



but Sagittarius. But to return to the Motherly Serpent, which 



is about a Foot and a half long, the Body ilender, adorn'd with 

 red and white Streaks. Another Author fays, 'tis of a red Colour, 

 diftinguifh'd by black Lines, intermix'd with white Spots : The 

 Indians play with this Serpent (as Ladies with their Lap-dogs) 

 and for Diverfion, wear this Uttle innocent and pretty Animal (as 

 a Necklace of Pearls) about their Necks j. 



ex. The Macacoatl, or Anguis Cervinus, fo called from its 

 horned Head, which refembles that of a Deer, as thick as a Man's 

 Thigh, in length about twenty Foot, fprinkled with dufky Spots 



inclining to the black and yellow. This feems to be a Member 



of the gigantick Family, already defcribed. J^/i. 273. There- 

 fore I difmifs it, and proceed to the 



CXI. A^ASENStr^tnx, which feems to be the Birth of the 

 Philippines, and very venemous : Its Wound proves fatal in a few 

 Minutes, which is preceded by the Putrefaftion of the Flefli, next 



to 



* Terga converfi metnenda Panhi. 

 ■\ Pugna levis, bellumque fugax, turm::eque fugacej, 

 Et melior ceffiiTe loco quam pellere miles. Lucan. 



X Joan. Eufeb. Niereml^er^ii H'Jlo'ia Naliirie, p. 272, — 5. 



