( 210 } 



fmall but the head is wide and fiat, 

 ending in an acute angle. The belly is 

 whitim, the fides are of a dark brown 

 colour, and the back is covered by a 

 a chain of large circular black fpots, 

 extending from end to end, and dimi- 

 nishing in fize from the middle, in pro- 

 portion with the body. Thefe Snakes 

 frequent the houfes of the inhabitants 

 during the rainy feafon, and their bite 

 is, by the Indians, faid to be fatal. 

 Whether this be true, I am now uncer- 

 tain ; tho' I had once like to have ex- 

 perienced its effedts ; when fitting ia a 

 chair one evening, and putting my hand 

 behind me, I perceived fomething un- 

 ufually cold, which I took to be the 

 back of the chair, but foon after felt it 

 move-; when ftarting up, I perceived I 

 had laid my hand on one of thefe 

 Snakes, who was coiled in a heap, with 

 the head uppermoft \ and as the pref- 

 fure of my hand had been light, and the 



warmth 



