SERPENTS. 417 
and life of the unhappy victim in the course of six or 
seven hours. 
A Snake of this kind exhibited in London at a menagerie 
of foreign animals, in the year 1810, Avounded a carpenter's 
hand, who was repairing its cage, and seeking for his rule: 
the man suffered the most excruciating pain, and his life 
could not be saved, although medical assistance was im- 
mediately applied, and all efforts were made to prevent 
the dire effect of the poison. The proprietor was con- 
demned to pay a deodand for the injury done by the ser- 
pent. 
THE AMPHISB^NA. (Amphisbcena fuliginosa,) 
THIS name is now applied only to a genus of South Ame- 
rican reptiles, which are of a harmless nature, being desti- 
tute of those fangs which prepare the venom in the poison- 
ous serpents. Each extremity of the body is of an equal 
thickness, which has given occasion to the story that this 
animal has two heads. The ancients gave the name of 
Amphisbaena to what they considered a two-headed ser- 
pent, but it is not known with certainty which of the 
serpent tribe they meant ; as their amphisbsena is de- 
scribed byLucan as venomous, though in his lines elegance 
of language, beauty of versification, and liveliness of fancy, 
have perhaps a greater claim than truth to the admiration 
of the reader. 
T5 
