An essay towards a natural history of serpents

by Charles Owen

INDEX

• A.
• ACONTIA Serpent, (the Figure, Plate [4];) why call’d a flying Serpent, [81]
• Adam, why not made impeccable, [171]
• —— Converse betwixt him and Angels, [173]
• —— in Innocency put in mind of Death, [181]
• —— his Fall described by Pagans, [182], [3]
• —— —— —— —— by Mahometans, [184]
• Adder; see Viper. (the Figure, [Plate 1])
• Agnasen Serpent, [132]
• Air, ador’d by Pagans, [210]
• Alexander the Great, and Alexander the Little, [140]
• Amodytes Serpent, describ’d, [53], [4]
• Amphisbæna, a two-headed Serpent, describ’d, [72]
• —— Instances of one in Oxfordshire, and in Chiapa in America, [[TN]]
• Ambua Serpent, [107]
• Ameiva Serpent, [122]
• Americina, [122]
• Anacandia Serpent, [[TN]]
• Ants, their Penetration, [8]
• —— in America great Master-Builders, [8], [132]
• —— Remarkable Sorts in the East-Indies, [8]
• Anguis laqueus, or the Ensnaring-Serpent, [136]
• Animals, turn’d into Gods by Pagans, [213]
• —— Their Adoration ridicul’d by some of themselves, [215], [236], [237]
• Apollo, catechis’d for his dubious Answers, [77]
• —— His She-Priest, ibid.
• Apotheosis, or Deification describ’d, [223]
• Asp, (the Figure, Plate [2],) described, [59]
• —— Its Foresight, [60]
• —— A Poem on the Asp and its Poison, [61]
• —— Highly venerated among the Egyptians, [70]
• Attaligatus Serpent, [134]
• B.
• Basilisk Serpent, (the Figure, [Plate 3]) describ’d, [78]
• —— why call’d King of Serpents, [79]
• —— (African, [Plate 3])
• Battle of the Gods, [212]
• Bees, (the Figure, [Plate 5]) their Sagacity, great Geometricians, [8]
• —— Their Sting describ’d, [148]
• Birds, why some here only in Winter, and others only in Summer, [7]
• Biobi, or green Serpent describ’d, [103]
• Bibera Serpent, [107]
• Bitin Serpent, [137]
• Blowing Serpent, [130]
• Boignacu Serpent, very beautiful, [106]
• Boytiapua Serpent, [108]
• —— An Instrument of Conjuration, [109]
• Bomsnake Serpent, [109]
• Boicupecanga Serpent, prickle-back’d, [110]
• Boitiapo Serpent, [117]
• Brochet de Torre, or Land-pike, [124]
• Brimstone Snake, [130]
• C.
• Cabiri, characteriz’d, [81]
• Caudisonant, or Rattle-Snake, (the Figure, [Plate 7]) describ’d, [91]
• —— Its Wounds and Cures, [92]
• Cameleon, (the Figure, [Plate 5]) describ’d; the reason why it appears in a change of Colours, [96]
• —— Why call’d a living Skin, [97]
• Canina Serpent, describ’d, [103]
• —— A Domestick Animal, [104]
• Camruana Serpent, [108]
• Carapobeba, [122]
• Cæcilia Serpent describ’d, why call’d blind, [80]
• Cencris Serpent describ’d, why call’d miliary, [80], [1]
• Cerastes, (the Figure, [Plate 1]) describ’d, the Executioner of Justice, [54], [5]
• Ceylon, a Land of Delights, [113]
• Ceylonic Hotambæia Serpent, [115]
• Chickens, produc’d by artificial Heat, [6], [147]
• Chastity conjugal, how try’d, [55]
• Charming of Serpents, various Instances, [62], [3]
• —— of Rats, a remarkable Instance in Germany, [65]
• —— of Serpents, by a Wand, [65]
• Cheese, an odd Custom in Antiquity about it, [129]
• Chicken Snake, [131]
• Cherubims, Emblems of Mercy and Justice, [175], [6]
• Christ’s Death, publish’d before that of Adam, [180]
• Cleopatra, her own Executioner by a Serpent, [34], [60], [61]
• Cloth, wash’d in Fire, [95]
• Cobres Capellos Serpent, describ’d, [90]
• Colour Green, why hated by the Turks, [108]
• —— Blue, why hated by the Persians, [109]
• Cordylus, a noxious Reptile, [121]
• Corn Snake, [129]
• Crocodile, (the Figure, [Plate 5]) describ’d at large, [118]
• —— eats Stones, ibid.
• —— venerated in Egypt, ibid.
• —— the occasion of a War, ibid.
• —— a Judge of Controversies, [119]
• —— the manner of destroying it, [120]
• —— Symbol of the Deity, [178]
• Creation, a Poem, [162]
• Cuckold, its Origin, [54]
• Cuckow Spittle, Grashoppers hatch’d in it, [108]
• Cucurijuba, a Serpent monstrous, [110]
• D.
• Darkness, the Destruction of Colours, [71]
• Dæmons explain’d, [205]
• Devil ador’d, [236], [238]
• Distempers cur’d by manual Touch, [56], [7]
• Dipsas Serpent, describ’d; its Wounds bring incurable Thirst, [85]
• Dogs, superiour to Men in the Sense of Smelling, [66]
• —— the manner of Sensation philosophically explain’d, [67]
• —— Providence vindicated in that matter, [68]
• Dopon Serpent, [133]
• Dragons describ’d, various Sorts and Forms, [74]
• —— monstrous one slain by Gozon, Knight, by a strange contrivance, [75]
• —— another slain by the Roman Army, [76]
• Dragon, Pythian, Guardian of the Delphick Oracle, ibid.
• Dragons, Guardians of Treasures, [78]
• —— winged, describ’d, (the Figure, [Plate 2]), [192]
• —— Æthiopian, (the Figure, [Plate 2])
• Druina Serpent, describ’d, [83]
• E.
• Eagles, how they take their Prey, [145]
• Ecatoth, or Serpent-of-the-Wind, [135]
• Eggs, the reason of Propagation by them, [5]
• —— the Method wonderful, ibid.
• Egg, Symbol of the World, [6]
• Eggs hatch’d in Ovens, the Young ones generally imperfect, ibid.
• —— mysterious Egg.
• Egg, a surprizing Compound, [128]
• —— the White of it a most singular Menstruum, ibid.
• —— how reduc’d to the likeness of Poison, ibid.
• Egyptians, a People of Contradiction, [60]
• —— whipp’d their inattentive Gods, [60]
• Elephantia Serpents, why so call’d, [86]
• Elops Serpent, (the Figure, [Plate 3]) describ’d, [84]
• Elephants, Creatures of great Bulk, [86]
• —— subject to Resentment, Instances of it, [87]
• —— a Battle betwixt them and Serpents, [91]
• Ethetulla Serpent, [113]
• Eve, how she came to converse with the Serpent, [174]
• —— her Converse with it before the Account of Moses very probable, [177]
• —— a Negative would have preserv’d her Innocence, [179]
• F.
• Faith, the Magnet of Magicians, [64]
• Fascinating Eyes, [41]
• Fish, how they breathe in Water, [1]
• Fire, ador’d, [211], [236]
• Funerals, their first Institution, [181]
• G.
• Generation equivocal exploded, [4]
• Ghalghulawa Serpent, [114]
• Giraupiagara Serpent, [108]
• Gobe Moujes, [124]
• Gods, Men transformed into them, [201]
• —— inanimate Things turn’d into them, [207]
• Goddesses, Women transform’d into them, [206]
• Golden Calf, [214]
• Grotto di Cani, a particular Account of it, [25], [6]
• —— —— Experiments made in it by Mr. Addison, [26]
• Grotto de i Serpi, a remarkable subterraneous Cavern, and Hospital for particular Diseases, [38]
• Ground Rattle-Snake, [125]
• Griffin describ’d, [145]
• Guaku, or Lyboya Serpent describ’d, one of the most monstrous, [102]
• H.
• Harus Serpent, [138]
• Heathens, their Fictions about Punishments in Hell, [49]
• —— their Opinion about Heaven, [50]
• Hereditary Right, the Title, how try’d, [56]
• Hemorrhous, (the Figure, [Plate 1]) describ’d; its Wounds force the Blood out thro’ every Pore of the Body, [57]
• Horse-Tail, a Turkish Standard, the Original of it, [81]
• Hooded, or Monk Serpent, [115]
• Horn Snake, [126]
• Hornet, (the Figure, [Plate 7]) describ’d, [148]
• Hydrus, or Water-Snake, [126], [141], [2]
• I.
• Japonians, their way of punishing Christians, [47]
• Jararaka Serpent, describ’d, [103]
• Jacore Lizard, [[TN]]
• Ibiara Serpent, describ’d, [99]
• Ibitobaca Serpent, (the Figure, [Plate 4]) describ’d, [102]
• Ibiboboca Serpent, describ’d.
• Ibizacoan Serpent, Cure of its Wound very singular, [106]
• Idolatry, the Original of it, [197]
• —— more ancient than Image-Worship, [198]
• —— the Incentives to it, [199]
• Jeboya Serpent, [108]
• Images, why Laban call’d them Gods, [203]
• Inchantment by noxious Herbs, &c. [47]
• Indian Prince, a very remarkable Saying of his about Spanish Cruelty, [133]
• Insects, little, great Executioners, [139]
• —— various Instances, ibid.
• Iquanna Serpent, describ’d, [102]
• Iron, one of the hardest Metals, yet the most brittle, [130]
• Israel, why punish’d by Serpents, [188]
• —— why punish’d by fiery Serpents, ibid.
• K.
• Kakaboya Serpent, [106]
• Kingdom won by an Heroick Answer, [58]
• King Snake, [129]
• —— Sashes made of its Skin, ibid.
• Koko Serpent, a Representation of the French Monarch, [58], [9]
• Kukuruki Serpent, describ’d, [99]
• L.
• Lancashire Beauties, [69]
• Lacertus viridis, or green Lizard, [121]
• Les Anoles Serpent, [123]
• Les Roquet Serpent, ibid.
• Light, how the Sensation of it is produc’d, [71]
• —— all Colours depend upon it, [71]
• Long black-Snake, [127]
• M.
• Magical Balls, [46], [7]
• Magick Art, the Original of it, [68]
• —— its Degeneracy, [68], [9]
• —— surprizing Instances of magick Wit, [69]
• Magick Egg, ibid.
• Magicians, St. Matthew’s wise Men in their time, [70]
• Manima Serpent, monstrous, [111]
• Malcarabeta Serpent, [113]
• Malpolon Serpent, ibid.
• Manballa Serpent, [114]
• Maboujas, [123]
• —— , an Emblem of the old Serpent, [124]
• Macacoatl, an horned Serpent, [132]
• Marine Dragon, or Serpent, [143]
• Men, Giants and Pygmies among ’em, [16]
• Mexico, two unparallel’d Instances of Cruelty, one by the Mexican, the other by Spanish Priests, [100], [1]
• Milk, its wonderful Nature describ’d, [128]
• Mithridate, the Original of its Name, [40], [5]
• Monoxillo, or Mucronated-Serpent, [137]
• Musk Serpent, [116]
• Musk Rats, and Musk Cats, ibid.
• Musk, a short Account of it, [116], [17]
• Musick, its wonderful Effects on the Mind and the Body in several remarkable Instances, 156 to [160]
• —— Conjectures about medicinal Cures by it, [164]
• N.
• Natrix-Torquata Snake, (the Figure, [Plate 5]), [142]
• Nintipolonga Serpent, [114]
• Noya Serpent, [90]
• O.
• Obsidian Stones, Looking-Glasses made of them, [105]
• Opium, the Darling of the Turks, [21]
• Orators, as well as Poets enthusiastical, [64]
• Oracular Answers, various Opinions about them, [77]
• Otus Serpent, [133]
• P.
• Pareas Serpent describ’d, [84]
• Paper, that is incombustible, [95]
• Parrot, a rational Dialogue betwixt it and Prince Maurice, [144], [5]
• Parthians, the best Fighters when retreating, [132]
• Paradise, Self-denial a Duty there, [180]
• —— Threatnings necessary there, [181]
• Pagan Fables founded on the Writings of Moses, [182]
• Persian Kings, their Recipe for an easy Death, [70]
• People, without Fraud, [125]
• —— have no Name for it, ibid.
• Pimbera Serpent, describ’d, [90]
• Pluto, his Attendants and Executioners cover’d with Snakes, as the Harpies, Furies, Cerberus, Chimæra, [47], [48], [49]
• Poison, vegetable Instances of it, [19], [20]
• —— Mineral, various Instances in Damps from Copper, Mercury, Tin, Lead, [22], [23]
• —— Animal, Debates about the Seat of it in Serpents, [26], [7]
• —— various Remedies for it, as Oil, experimented on one William Oliver, bit by a Serpent; Lichen Cinereus Terrestris, Venice Treacle, and several Vegetables, &c., [29], [30], [31], [145]
• —— one Drop of it a Match for a Sea of Blood, [32]
• —— when not dangerous, [33]
• —— exhaustible in Serpents by quick repeated Acts, but soon recruited, [35]
• Poetical Apology for a Sot, [73], [4]
• Polonga Serpent, describ’d, [90]
• Priests, their Genius for Cruelty. See Mexico.
• Prussians and Lithuanians, Serpent-Worshippers, [226]
• R.
• Rattle-Snake. Vid. Caudisonant.
• Red-belly Snake, [126]
• Red-back Snake, [127]
• Rivers ador’d, [210]
• Rubetarian Serpent, [143]
• —— —— loud and pretty, ibid.
• S.
• Sandals, used by the Ladies, [208]
• Salamander, (the Figure, Plate [5],) described, [92]
• —— how said to live in the Fire, [93]
• —— Corvini’s Experiment upon one, [94]
• Salamander’s-Wool, [95]
• —— —— Shrouds made of it for Kings, [95]
• Satan, why punish’d under the Figure of a Serpent, [185]
• Scorpions, (the Figure, Plate [7],) Countries destroy’d by them, as in Æthiopia, Amyclæ a Town in Italy, Pescara an ancient City in Italy, India, [45], [6]
• —— their various Kinds, Sizes, and malignant Nature, [87], [8]
• —— the Persians curse by them, [88]
• Scytale Serpent, (the Figure, Plate [2],) described, [70]
• —— —— an Aggregate of charming Colours, [71]
• Scolopendra, (the Figure, Plate [5],), [151]
• Serpents, general Description of them, [2]
• —— their Mode of Propagation viviparous and oviparous, [4], [5]
• —— their Sagacity, with regard to their different Lodgments, [6], [7], [172]
• —— during Winter, sleep with open Eyes, [7]
• —— their Enemies, viz. Eagle, Hawk, Stork, Ibis, Ichneumon, Magaure, and some Vegetables, [10], [11]
• —— Dust, not their original Food. A moral Reflection upon it, [12]
• —— their Food, which they swallow whole, [12], [13]
• —— their Size, some monstrous, others remarkably small, [13], [14], [15], [16], [146]
• —— their Apparatus for Motion curious, [17]
• —— their Skin an elegant Composition, [18]
• —— of special Service to Mankind, of great Use in Physick, various at home and abroad, [36], [7]
• —— the common Food of many Nations in Europe, Asia, Africa, America, 38 to [40]
• —— Instruments of divine and human Vengeance, [44]
• —— Jewish Camp infested with them, [44]
• —— Victory gain’d by them on Sea and Land, [46]
• Serpent, its Contest with St. Paul, [44]
• Seps, (the Figure, Plate [1],) why call’d the putrid Serpent, [58]
• Serpens Indicus Coronatus, [112]
• Serpens Putorius, [113]
  • The Sea Serpent, (the Figure, [Plate 6])
• Serpent de Boa, [144]
  • Mistress of Serpents, (the Figure, [Plate 6])
• Serpent, an Account of a remarkable one in Lancashire, [144]
• Serpent in Paradise, various Opinions about it, [168]
  • American Serpent, (the Figure, [Plate 3])
• Serpent brazen, [191], [2]
• —— prefigur’d Christ, [194]
• —— Israel, why cured by it, [195]
• Serpents, the Adoration of them, 216 to [227]
• —— Reasons for that Worship, [228]
• —— Worshippers of ’em among Christians, [229]
• Shrew-Serpent, [151]
• Shekina describ’d, [187]
• Silence, a Pythagorick Rudiment, [112]
• —— the Safety of Venice, [112]
• Sin, its first Entrance, [168]
• Sleep, a living Death, [70]
• Snake common, (the Figure, [Plate 4]) describ’d, [85]
• Spiders, (the Figure, [Plate 5])
• —— Black, (the Figure, Plate [4],) their various Kinds, [149]
• —— their Autumn Webs, [150]
• —— American, [150]
• Stellio, [123]
• Stupid Serpent, [136]
• —— —— a living Loadstone, as describ’d by some, [136]
• Sun and Moon, chief Deities of the Pagans, [209]
• Swamp Snakes, [126]
• T.
• Tarciboya Serpent, [106]
• Tapayaxin Serpent, [121]
• Taraguira, [121]
• Taraquico Aycuraba Serpent, [122]
• Tapayaxin Serpent, [137]
• Tapayaxin Serpent, the Friend of Man, [137]
• Tamacolin Serpent, of the Toad kind, [138]
• Tame and tractable Serpent, [140]
• Tarantula, (the Figure, Plate [7],) its Poison and Cure by Musick; the Manner how, 151 to [155]
• Teuthlacokauqui in Mexico, call’d the Fortress of the Serpents, describ’d, [100]
• Tetzawhcoatl Serpent, [104]
• Terpomongo Serpent, [111]
• —— —— a Symbol of Friendship, ibid.
• Tejuguacu, [121]
• Tejunhana Serpent, [122]
• Tetzaucoatl, or the rare Serpent, [139]
• Teraphim, explain’d, [202]
• Tleoa, or Tetloa Serpent, [140]
• —— an Inhabitant of the Mountains, [141]
• Toads, as large as Cats and Dogs, [138]
• Tzicatlinan Serpent, [132]
• —— —— the Darling of the Ladies, ibid.
• V.
• Vegetation, none without Air, [3]
• Vegetables, sleep in Winter, [7], [8]
• —— worshipped, [212]
• Vectis, [131]
• Vipers, different from the Snake, [52]
• —— a Battle betwixt one and a Magpye, [52]
• —— Battle betwixt one and a Dog, [53]
• —— don’t eat after they are taken, [53]
• Vipera Indica Tricolor Major, [112]
• Vipera Zelanica Minor, Maculis eleganter Variegata, [112]
• Unison, its Wonders, [160], [1]
• W.
• Wasps, (the Figure, Plate [7],) describ’d, [148]
• Wepelon Serpent, [115]
• Woman with two Horns, [54]
• Women warlike, [129]
• —— the hard Condition of their Marriage, ibid.
• Words, their Efficacy, Instance of it in Cæsar, [63], [4]
• Worms, Instances of Execution by them, [134], [5]
• Worship of hurtful Creatures, why, [233]
• —— of different Animals in Egypt, the Reasons, [234]
• Y.
• Yellow Snake, [130]

F I N I S.

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• Transcriber’s Notes:
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