"Of the aboma snake, which is the largest species in this country,
I have .seen a skin without the head measure fifteen feet; another
sixteen feet. And I have .been assured* that a few years ago, one
was shot on a plantation, which measured thirty feet: the skin
of this was sent to Holland. The skin of . these serpents.are finely
marked on the upper part, and are of the same colour as thp spots
of the tiger;; the under part is white or yellow* as there appear to be
twt? varieties of them: but the aboma snake is not venomous, for it
is said.that the negroes often tame them, and keep them in their
houses to destroy the rats and other obnoxious animals.; .so that
some .of the negroes seem to pay as much respect to them as to their
deities.
The reptile here called the two-headed snake, grows ,to the size
qf about eighteen, inches, and it seems nature has destined this species
to make a link between the snake and the earth-worm; it. is
ring-streaked in the body dike the worm; it has the appearance of
being blind, the. eyes being covered-over with a skin. The tail is.as
big as the head, which has contributed to the mistake, of its being
another head. The colour of this snake is white, streaked with dark
brown: it is not .dangerous, as it has but very short, and not sharp,
teeth. I
This snake is also called the king of the ants, as it is often found
in the hillocks of the ants, and the inhabitants here pretend, that
the ants provide for this blind.reptile; but the truth seems rather
to be, that this snake preys upon the ants, which is the reason that
it is often found amongst them. I have one in spirits, and mean
to send it you by the first opportunity. All those species of snakes
which are not venemous are very useful to this country by destroying
a great number of noxious.animals on which they live.
To the accounf of the -tropical eel, which is fully given by Dr.
Fermin, I have only to add, that besides the different experiments
the Doctor made, and whjch I have repeated, I have tried the
[ a p ]
power of the eel without'touching it,byTrumngTin the bason where
•the eel was'bdnfihed, an iroftbar rapidly, but at'a distance' df about
twö feet. The ifef seemed frightened ; and merely'from its motion,
without-its totalling the bar, I ‘reééived a-Éïost- violent stroke in my
rigfit arm near the elbow. By this powdrfte may be able to seize his <
prey, as well as to keep his enémy^fit â ^istàhcèvfhe more sö äs hé
prefers lying c’overed ever with mud, and shews^hi^Mlittle activity.
I had one kept in a waÄM tub partly filled with earth, andTed it with
Worin Sv
The remarkable toad Called the pipa, yoft hâve rilréady â perFect
description of ; but I do not knowwhethèf^ou ârè so well-informed
with respect‘to the frog with a; tail. It is pfetfirided by many inhabitants
hefe that, this frog changes into a fish; but Dr. Fermin
is perfectly in tile right, when he-expresses'ftiS doribtdf this. I have
seen this kind of frog in its different degrees of transformation ; but
it must be allowed, that the tadpole resethbles-k fish mdré‘than théft
of any other species offrdg^and that’ on its changeait remains still
with Ôïètail wherir it is full grown and has Assumed its perfect shape
of a frog.. I have also one1 selëcted.fof you, and have-sènt you Tor
the present aAdxäet drawing of it in its natural éifcè. There isfifish
hère,called the Jakie, which much resembles; the tadpole, and lives *
in the same marshy .‘grounds with' thetn,-which'very likely has oc±
casioned the mistakeof supposing that the Trog changès-ïritoa fish.
But with regard to ffife American caméléon, Dr. Fermin is‘ entirely
mistaken, and thd description he gives us is of the African caméléon,
which he very likéPÿ has seen here in One of the cabinets of
natural history, and has supposed it to be the caméléon of thiè?côriri-
’ try.;-but the triangular crown said by him to bé upon its head* arid
thé long tongue,'shew clearly that fie" is.mistaken ln.the animal. The
captains who Come from Africâ bring sometirhes caméléons with
therii iii spirits, and I have received such an one myself.* I t is<to be