That Snakes and Vipers do sting or transmit their mischief by the tail, is a common expression not easily to be justified; and a determination of their venoms unto a part, wherein we could never find it; the poison lying about the teeth, and communicated by bite, in such are destructive. And therefore when biting Serpents are mentioned in the Scripture, they are not differentially set down from such as mischief by stings; nor can conclusions be made conformable to this opinion, because when the Rod of _Moses_ was turned into a Serpent, God determinately commanded him to take up the same by the tail.
Nor are all Snakes of such empoisoning qualities, as common opinion presumeth; as is confirmable from the ordinary green Snake with us, from several histories of domestick Snakes, from Ophiophagous nations, and such as feed upon Serpents.
Surely the destructive delusion of Satan in this shape, hath much enlarged the opinion of their mischief. Which notwithstanding was not so high with the heathens, in whom the Devil had wrought a better opinion of this animal, it being sacred unto the _Egyptians_, _Greeks_ and _Romans_, and the common symbole of sanity. In the shape whereof _Ãsculapius_ the God of health appeared unto the _Romans_, accompanied their Embassadors to _Rome_ from _Epidaurus_; and the same did stand in the _Tiberine_ Isle upon the Temple of _Ãsculapius_.
Some doubt many have of the Tarantula, or poisonous Spider of _Calabria_, and that magical cure of the bite thereof by Musick. But since we observe that many attest it from experience: Since the learned _Kircherius_ hath positively averred it, and set down the songs and tunes solemnly used for it; Since some also affirm the Tarantula it self will dance upon certain stroaks, whereby they set their instruments against its poison; we shall not at all question it.
Much wonder is made of the Boramez, that strange plant-animal or vegetable Lamb of _Tartary_, which Wolves delight to feed on, which hath the shape of a Lamb, affordeth a bloody juyce upon breaking, and liveth while the plants be consumed about it. And yet if all this be no more, then the shape of a Lamb in the flower or seed, upon the top of the stalk, as we meet with the forms of Bees, Flies and Dogs in some others; he hath seen nothing that shall much wonder at it.