But to return to the Serpent, which moving in a direct Line, goes fast, but being of great Bulk, can’t suddenly wind about[166]: Circumvolution is the way to avoid its Menaces. ’Tis commonly found in the Island of _Lemnos_ (the old _Dipolis_, and now the _Stalimene_ of the _Turks_) and also in _Samothracia_, an Island in the _Archipelago_, a Province anciently famous for the _Dii Cabiri_, that is, _certain Gods_ worshipped by the _Samothracians_ and _Phenicians_, and had in such high Veneration, that it was a Crime to mention Names so sacred among the People[167]. Some say they were God’s Ministers, others think they were Devils. Footnote 166: _Et semper recto lapsurus limite cencris._ Lucan. Pharsal. p. 269. Footnote 167: _Bochart Geogr. Sacra_, lib. i. cap. 12. XV. The _Acontia_[168], called by the _Latins_, _Serpens Jacularis_, and by some, the Flying Serpent, because of the Celerity of its Motion. In _Lemnos_ ’tis call’d _Sagittarius_, the Bowman or Archer. By the modern _Greeks_, _Saeta_, a Dart; for it flies like an Arrow at its Prey[169]. A certain Person in _Cato_’s Army call’d _Paulus_, was slain, not by the Poison, but the Violence of its Blow[170]: Probably on the lateral part of the Scull. Footnote 168: Απο του ακοντος, quod, jaculi instar, se vibret. Footnote 169: Rumpat & Serpens iter institutum Si per obliquum similis sagittæ Terruit mannos. Footnote 170: ——immisit (jaculum vocat Africa,) serpens Perque caput Pauli transacta tempora fugit Nil ibi virus egit: rapuit cum vulnere fatum. _Lucani Pharsalia_, lib. ix. p. 273. Authors are not agreed about its Dimensions. _Ambrosinus_ speaking of one he had seen in the _Bononian Musæum_, says, ’tis about the thickness of a Staff, and about three Foot long: It is found in _Egypt_, its Wounds are dreadful, being attended with Putrefaction and Defluxion of the Flesh. That which _Bellonius_ saw, was three Palms long, or sixteen Inches and a Finger’s Breadth. _N. B._ _Palmus_ stands for two different Measures; _Palmus major_ contains twelve Fingers; _Palmus minor_, four Inches. It lies in wait under Bushes, from whence it rushes out unawares, and flies like an Arrow at Passengers: Before it leaps at the Prey, it lies on the Ground, and turns itself round, to give the greater spring to the Motion, by which she’ll do execution at twenty Cubits distance[171]. Footnote 171: _Jonstonus_, p. 20, 21. These nimble Leapers are found among the _West-Indians_, especially in _Hispaniola_, where there are little Serpents in green Apparel, that hang by the Tail on the Branches, from whence they suddenly leap upon their Prey. Among the _Sabæans_ are some cloathed in red, four Inches long, that thus leap upon Men unawares; and hurt, not only by striking, but touching.