142 A NATURAL HISTORY 



clear is equally the fame to this beautiful Slut *. In its Nature 

 'tis very poifonous, fays one ; Cai-dan is in the Negative. The 

 truth is, there are feveral I'orts of rhem, fome of which are 

 harmlefs, and others hurtful, and their Wounds attended with 

 very terrible EfTedls, defcribed by the poetick Phyfician ■\. 



In fome parts of Pcrfia they are very numerous, defcribed by 

 white Heads and black Body, four Cubits long, and dangerous 

 to thofe who dabble in the Water by Night, as they often do in 

 that hot Country ; where thefe Animals feed upon Fifh and Frogs % ; 

 and breed upon Land, according to Ariftotle |[. 



Its common Habitation is in the My clean Lake ^ in Corcina 

 or Corcyray now Corfou, (a little rich Ifland in the Venetian Do- 

 minion) and alfo about Taraciiia (a City of xhcVolfciam in Ca?)i- 

 fania, in Italy, not far from Amydce) where the People, not 

 ■daring to kill Serpents, were overthrown by them 3 to mention 

 no more. Ibid. 



CXXVII. The Natrix-Torquata, "Jonjlon makes different from 

 the former, and defcribes it thus Called Torquata from its beau- 

 tiful Neck, which looks as if incircled with a ftrong Collar of 



Pearls On the hinder part of the Head is a little narrow 



Space in the form of two Scales, where the Spots on both iides 

 end acutely in a triangular form. The Scholiajl upon Nieander, 

 compliments thofe pretty Spots with the Title of little Croivns **. 



It goes under various Appellations. The Greeks called it 

 Guardian of their Houfes -f-f-, it being of the innocent fort. Some 

 of the Italians call it Carbonarium, a Collier, becaufe its Colour 

 inclined to Coal-black, or Iron. Mr. Ray calls it, the common 

 Snake. It is larger than a Viper, and more grofs in Body ; brings 

 forth its Young by Eggs, hatch'd by foreign Heatj feeds on 



Mice ; 



* 'Tis fometimee called Lutra, ex Luto j becaufe it delights moft in foul Wa- 

 ter j or the Word may fignify, to waili and make clean. 



f Pellima quas fecit plagas hxc figna fequantur j 

 Arida toca cutis circum putret hombileraque 

 Elevat aipe»5tura, magni ignitique dolores 

 Tandem hominem inteiimunt. ■ — Nicander. 



rj: Stagna colit, ripifque habitans hie pifcibus atram 

 Improbus Ing'uviem ranifque loquacibus expler, 

 Exhauila palus — Exilic in iiccum— V-rg. Georg. lib. iii. 



tl Jon^ovi Uiji. Nat- p. 28, 25. ** Uiii. p. 29. 



■ft "04)e<soixsp<Ji> 



