Eduxit turpi miserum qua morte tulerunt.
Sylla quoque infelix tali languore peresus
Corruit, & sœdo se vidit ab agmine vinci.
Sic testatur Serenus medicus.
In Persia there are very long slender Worms bred in the Legs and other Parts of Men’s Bodies, six or seven Yards long. Those who live upon the Red-Sea, and feed upon Locusts, are, in the last Stage of Life, subject to a sort of Flying-Worms, like what is called a Tyke, spread over all the Body, arising at first from a Scab, by scratching of which they tear their Flesh. Nieremberg. Some relate divers Examples of Worms taken out of the Tongue, Gums, Nose, and other Parts by a Woman at Leicester, which they were Eye-witnesses of. N. B. Mr. Dent and Mr. Lewis, in the Philosoph. Trans. in Lowthorp’s Abridg. where these and divers others may be seen. If it did not extend the Digression too far, I might add here, That there are no Animals, as Sheep, Wolves, Goats, Deers, Cows, Horses, Swine; yea, no Vegetables, as Trees, Herbs, Plants, Flowers, but abound with Worms; and all these have Worms peculiar to themselves. By the help of microscopical Glasses, we may discover Legions of Worms in Vinegar, human Blood, and other Liquids.
CXV. The Ecatotl, Anguis-Venti, Serpent-of-the-Wind, and very innocent, and perhaps the Name may be borrowed from a gentle salutary Gale; it is about six Spans long, and two Inches in Crassitude; the Eyes are black, Teeth small, the Belly bright, like Silver. The Back and Sides illustrated with white Streaks, alternately painted with Yellow and Azure: the Tongue is of a black Colour, small, long, and cloven, and most nimble in its Vibrations[[283]].
[283]. Nierembergius, cap. xv. p. 274.
CXVI. DE Angue-Laqueo, the Ensnaring-Serpent. In the Province of Vera-Pas, west of the Honduras; they are much infected with several Insects, as Muskettoes, Fire-Flies, and Serpents. Among the last is one Serpent of great Bulk, and excels in Craftiness, being very subtle and sharp in laying hold of its Prey. The Method is surprizing; for it wraps up itself in the Form of a Ginn, and so decoys the Game into the Snare: It bites like a Dog, and is very mischievous, tho’ not of the venemous Order. Ibid.
CXVII. The stupid Serpent, which they call Canaucoatl, in Character is contradictious; for, as represented in History, ’tis dull and in a manner destitute of Sensation, and yet a Creature full of Vitality and Spirit; and indeed is only remarkable for its Mettle. It is of the Tribe of Innocents, and very strong, and fears no Assault. In Dimension, monstrous; for Thickness, equal to a Man’s Body, and twice the Length. ’Tis said, some have sat upon it, apprehending it to be only the Trunk of an old Tree. Some other fabulous Things are reported of it.
It lives in the Shadow of Woods, often concealing itself under Branches and Leaves of Trees, where it surprizes the Prey, which, to speak with the Vulgar, it draws to him, by the Force of its Breath, as a Loadstone does Iron. The Authors of the Atlas mention a Serpent of this attractive Power in the Philippine Islands; Birds and other Animals are drawn into the Trap by the Charms of the Breath; yea, Partridges, Weasels——are made to run into its devouring Jaws. Ibid.