OF SERPENTS. 151 



V. Th K Scolopendra is a little venemous Worm, and amphi-' 

 bious. When it wounds any, there follows a Bluenefs about the 

 affedted Part, and an Itch over all the Body, like that caufed by 

 Nettles, Its Weapons of Mifchief are much the fame with thofe 

 of the Spider, only larger j its Bite is very tormenting, and pro- 

 duces not only pruriginous Pain in the Flefh, but very often 

 Diftradlion of Mind. Thefe little Creatures make but a mean 

 Figure in the Rank of Animals, yet have been terrible in their 

 Exploits, particularly in driving People out of their Country : 

 Thus-thelnhabitantsof i?^_y//«»?, a City of Cr^/^, were conftrained 

 to leave their Quarters for them *. There is a minute Scolopendray 

 accounted for by Dr. Molyneux. 



' VI. The Shrew-Serpent in Norway, is a Creature of admira- 

 ble Beauty ; fmall in Body, and flow in Motion, but of fiery Ve- 

 nom, and its Wounds moil dangerous. 



VII, The Lacerfus Facetanus,, or Tarantula^ whofe Bite gives 

 Name to a new Difeafe, Thofe who are wounded by it are de- 

 nominated Tarantati : It is a kind of an overgrown Spider, about 

 the Size of a common Acorn. >' 



It borrows its Name from Tarentum in Apulia, a City in the 

 Kingdom of Naples, built by a Band of Lacedemonian Bajiards, 

 who having no Inheritance at home, were fent thither to feek their 

 Fortunes, where they built that Town,, and made it the Capital 

 of Magna Grcscia. 



This little Animal is furnifli'd with eight Eyes, and eight 

 Legs : Its Skin is tender and foft, of various Colours, and always 

 hairy : 'Tis of the oviparoas kind, and propagates its Species by 

 Eggs, and fometimes a hundred. Eggs have been found in' one 

 Female, 



In the Opinion of fome, 'tis not only an Inhabitant of Apulia^ 

 but peculiar to that Province, a Situation that may be called, A 

 Garden of Rarities; Plenty of generous Wine, delicate Honey 

 and Oil, an early Spring, a foft Winter — render it a moft delight- 

 ful Habitation, efpecially to old Perfons, according to the Poet -j- 1 



and 



* /Elian, lib.xv. cap. 16. 



t — Lie terrarum mihi praeter omnes — (Wor«/, lib.ii. ode^.) Angulus.— 



