THE ESCULA P7 AN SERPENT. 
257 
all the rest of the kind, in our climates, they lie torpid 
during the winter, and are sometimes found, in vast num- 
bers, twisted together. This animal, like the former, is per- 
fectly innocent ; like the viper, however, it brings forth its 
young alive. 
The Am VHisBiEN a, or the double-headed serpent, is re- 
markable for moving along with either the head or the tail 
foremost; whence it has been thought to have two heads. 
Some have affirmed that its bile is dangerous ; but this must 
be a mistake, as it wants the fangs, and consequently the 
laboratory that prepares the poison. 
The Esculapian Serpent of Italy is among this num- 
ber. It is there suffered to crawl about the chambers, and 
often gets into the beds where people lie. It is a yellow ser- 
pent, of about an ell long; and, though innocent, yet will 
bite when exasperated. They are said to be great destroyers 
of mice ; and this may be the reason why they are taken 
under human protection. The Boyuna of Ceylon, is 
equally a favourite among the natives ; and they consider 
the meeting it as a sign of good luck. TheSuaiNAM Ser- 
pent, which some improperly call the Arnmodytes, is 
equally harmless and desirable among the savages of that 
part of tl'.e world. They consider themselves as extremely 
happy if this animal comes into their huts. The colours 
of tliis serpent are so many and beautiful, that they surpass 
all description ; and these, perhaps, are the chief induce- 
ments to the savage, to consider its visits so very fortunate. 
A still greater favourite is the Prince of Serpents, a 
native of Japan, that has not its equal for beauty. The 
scales which cover the back are reddish, finely shaded, and 
marbled with large spots of irregular figures mixed with 
black. The fore part of the head is covered with yellow ; 
the forehead marked with a black marbled streak, and the 
eyes handsome and lively. But the Gerenda of the East 
Indies is the most honoured and esteemed. To this animal, 
which is finely spotted with various colours, the natives of 
Calicut pay divine honours; and, while their deity lies 
coiled up, which is its usual posture, the people fall upon 
their faces before it, with stupid adoration. The African 
Gerenda is larger, anti worshipped in the same manner by 
tbe inhabitants of the coasts of Mozambique. 
But in tbe larger tribe of serpents there is nothing but 
VoL. II. 2 K 
