36 NATURAL H IS T O R Y of N R WA Y: 



they are hardly everfeen in the neighbouring parifhes; and I was 

 informed in Nordals Parfonage at Sundmoer, that on that fide of 

 the river which runs by them there are many in the Summer, but 

 on the other fide not one ; and even it has been try'd to bring 

 them over, and they have immediately languifhed, and died in 

 a few hours after. 



This may have fufficient ground from the different nature of 

 the foil, tho' it is not obvious, and depends, perhaps, upon cer- 

 tain hidden minerals, which may be agreeable, or oppofite to their 

 natures. Some advance "that the much higher mountains on one 

 fide than the other obftrucl: the rays of the fun, which the Snake 

 is fond of, to be revived by its warmth. 



In the fame place I was allured that a peafant's wife found a 

 Snake in the cradle with her child, who was not in the leaft hurt 

 by it. Moft probably this cold creature wanted to revive itfelf 

 in the heat ; for when k* has lain the whole Winter in a ftate of 

 infenfibility, it receives life again gradually by the fun's warmth 

 in the Spring : and our long Winters and fhort Summers keep 

 them under, and prevent their increafing fo much as in warmer 

 climates. 



The kind of Snakes which the peafant calls Huiid Ormen, is 

 fought after, and preferved as a remedy for the cattle in many 

 diforders ; a piece of this creature, particularly the head, is rolled 

 up in a lump of dough, and put down the defeafed creature's 

 throat. The fkin that the Snake annually cafts, is ufed to tye 

 round a woman's body in difficult labour ; and they imagine it 

 promotes delivery. 



In regard to the birth of the venomous kind, by the obferva- 

 tions of many it is affirmed, that the female parent hangs herfelf 

 upon the branch of a tree, and lets the young ones, one after 

 the other, drop down from her. Whether this is done that 

 they fhould not bite the mother, according to their nature, I 

 cannot determine. 



All thefe creatures are viviparous j" for there are fome kind 

 of them which lay eggs, and they are often found in dunghills, 

 lying upon a great number of eggs, to hatch them as birds do : 

 and fome have obferved that they made the great flat toad lie 

 upon them, whilft they have thrown themfelves round the neft, 

 to keep him clofe to his duty. 

 singular inci- Another lingular incident, which I have heard from many cre- 

 ^ ent ' dible witneffes, may be related here, to fhew the power of Ser- 



pents even over birds, which do not feem fubjeded to them ; 

 that is, as one of them lies, he'll raife his head about a quarter, 



of 



