Though they propagate as Vipers, it does not appear that they sit on their Eggs, as most oviparous Animals do; for we often find a Brood of young Serpents in old Hedges and Dunghills, and no visible Sign of a common Passage to and from the Nest. XXI. The _Elephantia Serpents_ are those whose Wounds cast People into a Leprosy or Roughness of Skin, like that of an Elephant: Hence Leprosy proceeding from inward Disorders, is call’d _Elephantia_ or _Elephantiasis_, which is a cutaneous Disease, makes the Skin scurfy and rough, in Colour resembling that of an Animal, that in Bulk and Intelligence is superior to all four-footed Beasts. _Elephants_ in _India_ are said to be about 12 Foot high, and of a Mouse-colour, the Skin not only rough, but hard, so hard, that it is not penetrable by a Sword; their Eyes like those of Swine; two Teeth hang out beyond the rest, which are Ivory. A memorable Instance of this gigantick Creature’s Understanding, we had a few Years ago at _Newcastle_ in _Staffordshire_, where a Man travelling with an _Elephant_ for a Show, one Morning conducting that Creature to water, happened to pass by a Taylor’s Shop, that was working at an open Window, and so near it, that the _Taylor_ had the _Courage_ to prick him with his Needle: The Beast did not then seem to resent the Affront, but when he returned from the Water, which he having artfully muddled, took into his Trunk; as he came back by the Taylor’s Window, spouted it in his Face, which very much disobliged a Piece of Scarlet-cloth on his Table. [Illustration: _Plate 4^{th}._ ] That Elephants are subject to Wrath and Revenge, is evident from other Instances: _e. g._ We read of an Elephant, that when he was brought into a certain Theatre, saw, as he pass’d along, a Keeper of wild Beasts, sitting in the Market-place, whom he suddenly killed: And that the occasion of this Revenge was, because the said Keeper about ten Years before had struck him with a Sword in that same Place[185]. Footnote 185: _Michael Glycas_’s Annal. par. 1. in the Memoirs of the Royal Society, vol. v, vi. p. 280, 281. _ibid._ p. 281. And _Acosta_ writes, that a Soldier in the Town of _Cochine_, had thrown the Kernel of a Nut at an Elephant, which the Animal took up and carefully hid: Some Days after, the Elephant seeing the said Soldier pass by, threw it in his Face, and went away leaping and dancing. _Ibid._ In that same Town, another Soldier, meeting an Elephant and his Keeper, would not give way to them: Whereupon the Keeper complained to the Elephant of the Affront, who some days after, standing on the River _Mangata_, which runs through the Town, and seeing that sturdy Soldier stand idle, ran hastily towards him, lifted him upon his Trunk, and plunged him several Times in the River; after which, he drew him out, and left him where he found him. _Ibid._