139 
the testudo imbricata or hawksbill turtle, are largely 
used in elegant manufactures, especially the latter, 
which affords the true tortoiseshell. The frog, rana 
esculenta, is a favourite article of food in France, 
Germany, and Italy. A scarcity of frogs at Vienna 
would occasion as much discontent as a scarcity of 
corn in England, and would probably be attributed 
to the emperor or his ministers. The lacerta iguana, 
however hideous in appearance, is eaten with great 
relish, and esteemed to be rich and delicious food, 
in South America. 
Crocodiles and alligators are dangerous to the un- 
wary in their native rivers. Their fangs are terrific ; 
their armour, on the back at least, impenetrable. 
The roar of numerous alligators in the South Ame- 
rican rivers resembles thunder, and seems to shake 
the shores of the Oroonoko. The lacerta gecko is 
said to be poisonous. The Japanese are reported to 
poison their arrows with a juice extracted from the 
feet of this animal, which is said to communicate 
its poison to meat over which it has casually passed. 
The flesh of vipers used in broth has been thought 
to prove beneficial to some consumptive patients. 
The flesh of some innoxious serpents is eaten 
by Indians. Amongst the serpent tribes, however, 
are found the inflictors of most deadly wounds by 
means of their quickly fatal poisons. These are 
found in the genera crotalus and coluber. Of the 
former, the most commonly known is crotalus hor- 
ridus, the rattle-snake, the bite of which has killed 
a dog in two minutes. It is said that hogs devour 
