0 ',' SERPENTS. 
‘257 
. ASP. 
The Asp is a small serpent, like to the 
land snake, but of a broader back. When 
provoked, its neck swells to a great degree; 
and if it stings a person in that passion, 
deuth inevitably follows. The stroke of its 
eyes is exceedingly red and tlaining. There 
are two pieces of flesh, like a hard skin, 
which grow out of its forehead. Its teeth 
are very long, and grow out of its mouth 
like a boar’s, and through two of the longest 
are little hollows, out. of which it ejects its 
poison. These holes are covered With a 
thin skin, which slides up when it bites, by 
which mentis the poison comes out. Its 
scales are hard, dry, and red. They are 
from three to six feet in length. 
