In some parts of Persia they are very numerous, described by white Heads and black Body, four Cubits long, and dangerous to those who dabble in the Water by Night, as they often do in that hot Country where these Animals feed upon Fish and Frogs[[297]]; and breed upon Land, according to Aristotle[[298]].
Stagna colit, ripisque habitans his piscibus atram
Improbus Ingluviem ranisque loquacibus explet,
Exhausta palus—Exilit in siccum—
Virg. Georg. lib. iii.
[298]. Jonstoni Hist. Nat. p. 28, 29.
Its common Habitation is in the Myclean Lake, in Corcina or Corcyra, now Corfou, (a little rich Island in the Venetian Dominion) and also about Taracina (a City of the Volscians in Campania, in Italy, not far from Amyclæ) where the People, not daring to kill Serpents, were overthrown by them; to mention no more. Ibid.
CXXVII. The Natrix-Torquata, Jonston makes different from the former, and describes it thus——Called Torquata from its beautiful Neck, which looks as if incircled with a strong Collar of Pearls.... On the hinder part of the Head is a little narrow Space in the form of two Scales, where the Spots on both sides end acutely in a triangular form. The Scholiast upon Nicander, compliments those pretty Spots with the Title of little Crowns[[299]].
[299]. Ibid. p. 29.