XCIV. The _Ground Rattle-Snake_, so called, only because it resembles the real Rattle-Snake in Colour, but is somewhat darker: It never grows above twelve or sixteen Inches long; ’tis reckon’d among the worst of Snakes, and of a hardy Nature, because it keeps out of its Winter-Quarters the longest of any. N. B. _This Serpent and some of the following are taken out of the natural History of_ Carolina[263], a part of _America_ belonging to _England_. The Natives of that Country were of a larger Size than _Europeans_, and accounted so faithful in their Promises, and so just in their Dealings, that they had no Words to express _Dishonesty_, _Fraud_, or _Cheating_,—What contributed chiefly to their honest Simplicity, and plain Method of living, was their Contempt of Riches; were content with plain Food and Raiment, without being anxiously sollicitous for to-morrow. Footnote 263: In the new _Collection of Voyages_, 4to, printed 1713. XCV. The _Horn-Snake_, very venemous, hisses exactly like a Goose, upon any body’s Approach. Serpents of this Class strike at the Enemy with their Tail, which is arm’d at the end with a horny Substance, like a Cock-Spur, that kills whatever is wounded with it. ’Tis said, that in _Virginia_, they only shoot their Tongues, and shake them at the Enemy[264]. Footnote 264: _Lowthorp._ vol. iii, p. 599. XCVI. The _Hydrus_, _Natrix_, or _Water-Snake_, of these are various sorts, and all in some degree amphibious. When the _Coluber Aquaticus_ wounds any, ’tis attended with a most disagreeable Odour, and so strong, that it forbids a near Approach to the unhappy Sufferer, who immediately falls into a Tremor and Distraction, and soon expires (the third day, says _Ælian_) without timely Relief[265]. Footnote 265: _Ælian._ lib. iv. cap. 57. _Accessio Gyllii._— Its common Residence is in shallow Waters, and when they are dried up, it goes upon dry Ground, where its Wound is more dangerous than in Water: But more of this elsewhere. XCVII. In that Country they have what they call _Swamp-Snakes_; three sorts of which are near a-kin to the Water-Snakes, and may be rank’d among them. The Belly of the first is of the carnation Colour, the Back is dark: the next, which is of a brown Colour, always abides in the Marshes: the third is of a motley Colour, and very poisonous. They dwell on the sides of Swamps, _i. e._ Bogs, Marshes, and Ponds, have a prodigious large Mouth, and they arrive to the thickness of the Calf of a Man’s Leg. Among these I place the black _Truncheon-Snakes_, that live on the Banks of Rivers, which, when disturbed, shoot into the Water, like an Arrow out of a Bow. I fancy the Name is borrow’d from a certain Weapon call’d Truncheon, which we call _Battoon_, or Tipstaff, of a cylindrical form, used by principal Officers of State, Generals, and sometimes by Constables, when they go upon secret Expeditions.