REPTILES 



397 



all strong in wing, and they might have escaped; 

 but to speak of them as we do of rational creatures, 

 they had lost their senses; they were demented by 

 fear. They were disposed, they were constrained 

 to move ; but as they durst not turn their eyes from 

 the object of terror, they moved to their destruction. 

 I have detailed this case, because no man who knows 

 Mr. Sandford will dispute his veracity, and because 

 he noted the case with inquisitive eyes, for until that 

 hour, he had questioned the received opinion con- 

 cerning the fascination of serpents. I shall rest the 

 question here, because I should despair of finding 

 proofs of what is called fascination, unless this should 

 be admitted as a clear and direct proof." 



Those who are anxious to see this subject treated 

 at great length, are referred to Dr. Barton's paper 

 already quoted ; to professor Blumenbach's piece 

 in Tilloch's Philos. Mag. and to the paper by Dr. 

 Williamson. 



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