OF REPTILES* 
321 
ed to have been but a short time in the stomach; so that 
its forbearance might, in some measure, be owing to not 
being hungry; a circumstance that suggested caution 
against hasty decision. But it certainly is not venomous, 
and does not appear to be very irrascible. It is regarded 
by the natives as harmless. 
Egyptian Viper. (PL 52.) This is said to be the 
officinal viper of the Egyptians, and is by some supposed 
to be the asp of Cleopatra, by the bite of which that 
high-spirited princess determined to die, rather than 
submit to be carried to Rome in order to grace the tri- 
umph of Augustus. It is imported in considerable 
quantities every year to Venice, for the use of the apo- 
thecaries in the composition of treacle, and for other 
purposes, particularly as an incitement to libidinous de- 
sires. it is abundant in Egypt; and is found in other 
parts of Africa as well as in Asia. It is from twenty 
inches long, to three feet and upwards, variegated with 
rich chesnut brown spots or bands, on a lighter brown 
ground, the scales remarkably short, close set, and hard; 
the eyes are vertical; the head compressed, and covered 
with very minute dark brown scales, and reddish stripes. 
It is very poisonous, but not often fatally so. 
The variegated viper, is so named from the mixture 
o f colours on us body, which is mottled with white, 
brown, and gray; the sides and belly are pale yellow; and 
its form and size is much the same as the preceding. It 
is a native of America, but not poisonous. 
Intestine Viper. So named from its lurking in se- 
cret and hidden places for its prey. It is a small spe- 
cies, inoffensive to man, and devoid of poison. Its prey 
is insects, lizards, frogs, toads, and mice. The ground 
colour of its body is a reddish brown, mottled and va- 
riegated with white transvere bands, and narrow longi- 
tudinal lines on the back and sides. It is a native of 
Africa, and found plentifully on the coast of Guinea. 
Horned Viper. (PI. 53.) The cerastes or horned 
viper, which commonly grows to the length of about a 
foot or fifteen inches, but sometimes more than two 
feet, is distinguished by a pair of horns or curved pro- 
