He might have mentioned another innocent Creature, on whose Head a treacherous Companion inoculates a Scion, which intitles him to the Title of Cuckold, a word derived from Cuckows, who having no Beds of their own, invade their Neighbour’s. Of the Cuckow ’tis said, that having no Nest, she takes possession of some other Bird’s Nest, destroys the Eggs, and lays in it an Egg of her own, which the innocent Bird brings forth and nurses for its own[[106]].
[106]. Dr. Willoughby, who writ the History of Birds, affirms this Account of the Cuckow to be true upon his own Knowledge, according to Mr. Ray.
III. The Cerastes is a Serpent of the viperine Kind; its Head resembles the Cornigerous; it belongs to the Libyan and Nubian Family: Its Teeth are like those of the Viper, and it brings its Successors into the World after the same manner.
Its Constitution is very dry, which refines and exalts its Poison, and makes it more dangerous; the Wound is generally attended with Distraction, and continual pricking as with Needles. Some say, ’tis of a whitish Colour, others arenaceous; it loves sandy Habitations, where it often surprises the unwary Traveller: And all agree ’tis of a most cruel Nature; and therefore in some Places ’twas made the Executioner of Malefactors[[107]], as the Juice of the Cicuta, (an Herb like our Hemlock) was among the Athenians.
[107]. Nunc potes actutum insidiatoremque Cerasten—Non is corpus habet, sed quatuor aut duo profert Cornua. Nicander in Ther.
Plate 1st
Some say ’tis of the aspick kind, as the Arabians; in length a Cubit or more, with two Horns on the Head, resembling Snail-Shells: It lies perdue near travelling Paths, and is very crafty in decoying little Birds into the Snare.
Its Wounds soon kill, if one of the Psyllian People be not immediately called in. N. B. These Psylli are a noted People of Syrenaica in Africa, endued with a natural Faculty of destroying Serpents upon sight, and curing their Wounds by a Touch of the Hand of whom we have this Account, viz. ... Crates of Pergamus says, that about Parium in the Hellespont, there were Men, named Ophiogenes, who cured those wounded by Serpents with a Touch. Varro testifies there were some of them in his time.
AGATHERCIDES writes, that in Africa the Psyllians (a People so called from King Psyllus, from whom they were descended, and whose Sepulchre is to be seen at this day in the greater Syrtes) did in the same manner heal People wounded by Serpents. ’Tis said they had some extraordinary Quality in their Nature, that would suddenly kill all Serpents.