VARIOUS SERPENTS. 
167 
any that I had ever met with in any other part 
of the country; amongst the number, was one 
which I was informed was venemous in the 
highest degree: it was somewhat more than 
three feet in length; its back was perfectly 
black; its belly a vivid orange. I found it 
amongst the rocks on Middle Island, and on 
being wounded in the tail, it turned about 
to defend itself with inconceivable fury. Mr. 
Carver tells us of a serpent that is peculiar to 
these islands, called, the hissing snake : “It is,” 
says he, “ of the small speckled kind, and about 
“ eighteen inches long. When any thing ap- 
proaches it, it flattens itself in a moment, 
“ and its spots, which are of various dyes, 
tc become visibly brighter through rage; at the 
same time it blows from its mouth with 
great force a subtile wind, that is reported to 
y<r be of a nauseous smell, and if drawn in with 
tc the breath of the unwary traveller, will in- 
** fallibly bring on a decline, that in a few 
“ months must prove mortal, there being no 
* V 
* c remedy yet discovered which can counteract 
“ its baneful influence.” Mr. Carver does not 
T 7 * '. ! 
inform us of his having himself seen this snake; 
I am tempted, therefore to imagine, that he 
has been imposed upon, and that the whole 
account he has given of it is fabulous, I made 
very particular enquiries respeoting the ex¬ 
istence of such a snake, from those persons who 
i 
