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edges of the fcales, which compofe the 

 red fpots, are black, as are thofe which 

 compofe the white. Its bite is deemed 

 fatal* but its motion is flow. It is thd 

 common opinion here, that the morei 

 lively and various the colours of Snakes 

 are, the more fatal is their poifon ; and 

 there are fome fads which countenance 

 this opinion; though there are others 

 which contradict it. This I take to be 

 the Snake which Condamine calls La Con* 

 leuvre Cora/, remarquable par la varieti 

 & vivacite defes couleurs. Though none 

 but the mofl loofe and imperfed: ideas 

 can be derived from the curfory manner 

 in which he mentions almoft every par- 

 ticular, and which appears to me very 

 inconfiftent with that curiofity, which 

 could engage a man to feparate himfelf 

 from his companions, in a foreign coun* 

 try, and traverfe the extent of a wide 

 Continent, in queft of natural know* 

 ledge. 



It 



