An essay towards a natural history of serpents

by Charles Owen

[238]. Tum viridis squamis, parvo saxatilis ore. Ovid.

LXVII. The Manballa is another Indian, and from its Name we may conclude it has something of the canine Nature, for it flies with great Fury at Passengers, as some Dogs usually do. ’Tis of a light red (or bright bay, as we call it in Horses) spotted with white.

LXVIII. The Nintipolonga, an Indian Serpent, whose Skin is checker’d with white and black Spots. Its Bite is accompanied with mortiferous Sleep, therefore call’d Serpens hypnoticus, soporiferous Serpent, whose Wounds are as an Opiate, or Medicines that induce sleep, in which they die. Q. Why may not we suppose this narcotic Poison to be the same with that, which Cleopatra used in executing the Sentence that Heroine past upon herself?

LXIX. The Wepelon Serpent: Nothing is said of it, but that it resembles an Indian Reed or Cane in form.

LXX. SERPENS Fluviatilis, seems to be the Water-Snake.

LXXI. SERPENS Spadiceus, a Serpent of light red Colour.

LXXII. Then follows the Ceylonic Hotambœia. Dr. Robinson’s Account of this Serpent, he had from the learned Hermannus’s Library.

N. B. Some of these Eastern Serpents may coincide and agree in Character with those in America, and other Regions. Where there is such an infinite Variety of them, and delineated by so many different hands, ’tis difficult to give an exact Description of every individual Serpent.

Other parts of the East-Indies (Continent and Islands) are infested with Serpents of various kinds and sizes, and he must be more than a Conjurer in History, that can charm them to make their Appearance in one Place, and all in their proper Habiliments.

LXXIII. The hooded or Monk Serpent, found in an Island near Batavia (a Dutch Settlement in the East-Indies) which differs from other Serpents in the uncouth Shape of its Head, that looks as if it were cover’d with a large long Hood, like a Monk’s Cowl, or the Widow’s Veil, therefore called the hooded Serpent, which is a very dangerous Animal. Upon a view of its Prey, it immediately advances towards it, with terrible Rage and Hissing.