inevitable death," p. 308. 8 vo. The reader will observe, this is report.

To conclude by returning to the dragon:

The following is the latest, and most distinct account of one of these large serpents which I have been able to procure: I hope no apology is necessary for alluding to an inhabitant of South America; I have been extremely jealous on such excursions. It combines several particulars which coincide with our purpose, though it differs certainly from the red dragon of Asia or Africa.

"We had not gone above twenty yards through mud and water, the negro looking every way with an uncommon degree of vivacity and attention; when, starting behind me, he called out, "Me see snakee!" and in effect, there lay the animal, rolled up under the falling leaves and rubbish of the trees; and so well covered, that it was some time before I distinctly perceived the head of this monster, distant from me not above sixteen feet, moving its forked tongue, while its eyes, from their uncommon brightness, appeared to emit sparks of fire. I now, resting my piece upon a branch, for the purpose of taking a surer aim, fired; but missing the head, the ball went through the body, when the animal struck round, and with such astonishing force as to cut away all the underwood around him with the facility of a scythe mowing grass; and by flouncing his tail, caused the mud and dirt to fly over our heads to a considerable distance. Of this proceeding however we were not torpid spectators, but took to our heels, and crowded into the canoe... I now found the snake a little removed from his former station, but very quiet, with his head as before, lying out among the fallen leaves, rotten bark, and old moss. I fired at it immediately, but with no better success than the other time: and now, being but slightly wounded, he sent up such a cloud of dust and dirt, as I never saw but in a whirlwind, and made us once more suddenly retreat Having once more discovered the snake, we discharged both our pieces at once, and with this good effect, that he was now by one of us shot through the head. David, who was made completely happy by this successful conclusion, ran leaping with joy, and lost no time in bringing the boat rope, in order to drag him down to the canoe; but this again proved not a very easy undertaking, since the creature, notwithstanding its being mortally wounded, still continued to writhe and twist about, in such a manner as rendered it dangerous for any person to approach him. The negro, however, having made a running noose on the rope, after some fruitless attempts to make an approach, threw it over his head with much dexterity; and now, all taking hold of the rope, we dragged him to the beach, and tied him to the stern of the canoe, to take him in tow. Being still alive, he

disappears; after this, the aboma cannot shift its situation, on account of the great knob or knot which the swallowed prey occasions in that part of the body where it rests, till it is digested; for till then it would hinder the snake from sliding along the ground. During that time the aboma wants no other subsistence. I have been told of negroes being devoured by this animal, and am disposed to credit the account; for should they chance to come within its reach when hungry, it would as certainly seize them as any other animal. The bite of this snake is said not to be venomous; nor do I believe it bites at all from any other impulse than hunger," Stedman's Expedition to Surinam, vol. i. p. 170.

OF THE CERASTES, AND SIMILAR SERPENTS.

The cerastes, or horned viper, is among the most fatal of the serpent tribe. It is, moreover, well distinguished from all others, by the peculiarity of its horns; and it is abundant in Egypt and in Syria, so that it could not escape the notice and allusions of the sacred writers. I believe it is agreed, on all hands, that this serpent is mentioned in scripture; but the difficulty is to determine which of the Hebrew appellations of serpents describes this species especially.

Mr. Bruce has favoured us with a figure of this creature, and with a considerable account of its manners, part of which we shall extract. He says "there is no article of natural history the ancients have dwelt on more than that of the viper, whether poets, physicians, or historians. All have enlarged upon the particular sizes, colours, and qualities, yet the knowledge of their manners is but little extended.

"I have travelled across the Cyrenaicum in all its directions, and never saw but one species of viper, which was the cerastes, or horned viper, now before us; neither did I ever see any of the snake kind that could be mistaken for the viper.

"The basilisk is a species of serpent, frequently made mention of in Scripture, though never described, further than that he cannot be charmed so as to do no hurt, nor trained so as to delight in music; which all travellers who have been in Egypt know is exceeding possible, and frequently seen. "For behold I will send basilisks among you," saith the Scripture," which will not be charmed; and they shall bite you, saith the Lord." [Jer. viii. 17.] And [Psalm ix. 13.] "Thou shalt tread upon the lion and basilisk," &c. It is to be observed here, it is the Greek text that calls it basilisk: the Hebrew, for the most part, calls it tsepha, which are a species of serpents real and known. Our English translation, very improperly, renders it cockatrice, a fabulous animal, that never did exist. I shall only further ob