[17]. Conrad, Gesner. 85.
It is remarkable, that Nature has provided young Vipers with poisonous Teeth grown to Perfection, commensurate to their Bulk, that so they may immediately feed themselves, by being able, in some measure, to kill their Prey as soon as they are born. Some of these Animals have temporary Parts, as the Lacerta Aquatica, a little Water-Serpent, which, when young, has four ramified Fins, to poise and keep its Body upright, (which gives it the Resemblance of a young Fish) and these fall off when the Legs are grown: So Frogs and Toads, in their Tadpole State, have Tails, which fall off when their Legs are grown out[[18]]. These pass through various Transmigrations, before they arrive at their perfect State.
[18]. Derham’s Phys. Theol. B. IV.
SECTION V.
As Serpents differ in Kind, so in Size; the Length to which some of them grow is most surprizing. A certain Number is sent out with little Bodies; others are of monstrous Bulk, and capable of making the strongest Efforts against all the Attempts made to destroy them; yea, are strong enough to contend with Elephants, the greatest of Animals, and conquer them. e. gr.
ATTILIUS REGULUS, the Roman General in Africa, is said to encounter a Serpent in that Country, of vast Strength and Stature, near the River Bagrada, 120 Feet long, which he and his Army could not subdue, without discharging all their Engines of War against it; and, when conquered and flea’d, its Skin was conveyed to Rome in Triumph[[19]]. This is the more credible, says Pliny, because, in Italy, we see other Serpents, called Boæ, so large that in the Reign of Claudius, there was one of them killed in the Vatican, within whose Belly was found an Infant whole[[20]].
[19]. Prœlium grands & acre eumque magna totius exercitus conflictatione, balistis atque catapultis diu oppugnatum—Ejusque interfecti longum corium pedes 120. Aul. Gellii Noct. Att. Liber VI. Cap. iii.
[20]. Nat. Hist. B. VIII. Cap. xiv.
Among the Andes in America, are Serpents of prodigious Magnitude, from 25 to 30 Foot long[[21]]. In the Province of Caria, are Serpents ten Yards long, and Ten Hands broad, and their Eyes as large as two small Loaves. In Brasil, are found Serpents 30 Foot long. In Gresham-College, London, is a Snake preserved in Spirits, that is near two Yards long.