The history of four-footed beasts and serpents describing at large their true and lively figure, their several names, conditions, kinds, virtues ... countries of their breed, their love and hatred to mankind, and the wonderful work by Edward Topsell ; whereunto is now added, The theater of insects, or, Lesser living creatures ... by T. Muffet ...

Of the DOUBLE-HEAD.

BEcause the Grecians call this Serpent Amphisbaina, and the Latines from thence Amphisbaena, be∣cause it goeth both ways, as if it had two heads and no tail: and for this purpose it is never seen to turn his body, as it were turn about his head. When it hath a purpose to avoid that thing which it feareth, or wherewithal it is offended, he doth but only change his course backward as he went forward; so that it is as happy as Lynceus, whom the Poets faign to be very quick-sighted, or as those Monsters which are said to have eyes in their backs, or rather like to Janus, which is said to have two faces, one forward, and another backward, and therefore I have called it Double-head, I trust fitly enough to expesse the Greek word, although compounded of two words together, for so is the Greek word also, which the French do expresse by a like compounded word, Double-marcheur, that is, going two ways. It is likewise called Ankesime, Alchismus, and Amphisilene. And thus much may suffice for the name.

It is said that this Serpent is found in the Island Lemnus, but among the Germans it is unknown. There is some question whether it may be said to have two heads or no. Galen affirmeth, that it is like a Ship having two fore-parts, that is, one behinde, and another before. Pliny also subscribeth here∣unto, and maketh it a very pestilent Serpent, Geminum habet caput Amphisbana, tanquam parum esset, uno ore fundi venenum, saith he; It hath a double-head, as though one mouth were not enough to utter his poyson according to the saying of the Poet:

Est gravi•• in geminum surgitis caput Amphis-benae Serpens qui visu necat & sibilo.

Which may be Englished thus;

This Serpent Double-head, is grievous to be seen, Whose cloven-head doth kill with sight and hissing keen.

Unto this also Aelianus subscribeth, that it is a true Serpent, and hath two heads, so that whenso∣ever it is to go forward, one of them standeth in the place of the tail, but when it is to go backward, then the head becometh the tail, and the tail the head. So also Mantuan saith it is a double-headed Serpent, and a fearful stinging Asp. And so generally all the Ancients, until Matthiolus and Grevinus time, who first of all began to contrary this opinion, affirming it to be impossible in nature, for one Serpent to have two heads, except it be monstrous, and exceed the common course of nature. Such a one was that Serpent with two heads that Aristotle speaketh of, which doth easily happen to all those creatures which at one birth bring forth many young ones; for so their bodies may be conjoyned into one, while theit heads stand asunder like twain. And they say that this Serpent doth resemble a Worm of the earth, whose head and tail is hard to be distinguished asunder except you see it going. And they say further, that this Serpent is like to the Scytal, of which we shall speak afterwards, differing from it in nothing except in going backward and forward, and this is all that they can bring against the opinion of the Ancients, whom I will not stand to confute, but leave the Reader to believe one or other: for it shall not bring to me any great disadvantage, except the losse of this new English name, for I have dealt faithfully with the Reader in setting down the opinion of both sides, and if I do fail in a fit name, yet will I not swerve from the best descripti∣on of his nature.

The whole proportion of his body is of equal magnitude or greatness, and the two extremities do answer the middle. His eyes are for the most part shut, the colour like earth, not black, but tending to blacknesse, the skin rough and hard, and set over with divers spots: all which properties, or ra∣ther parts are thus described by Nicander.

Cujus perpetua est caecum caligine lumen, Quod latas utrin{que} genas porrrecta{que} menta, Terreus est illi color, & densissima pellis Plurima quam varii distinctam signa figurant, Plus aliis alto Serpentibus aggeretendat.

In English thus:

Whose eye is ever void of light, because Two cheeks both broad and standing up it hides, The colour earth, thick skin, with spots in rows, Then other Serpents with greater bulk it glides.

Solinus Polihistor affirmeth, that they ingender and bring egges forth of the mouth, that is, out of that mouth which is toward the tail, if there be any such. There is no Serpent that doth more boldly adventure to indure the cold then this doth, for it cometh out of his den not only before other Serpents, but also before the Cuckoe sing, or the Grashopper cometh forth. They are

exceeding careful of their egges, and therefore seldom depart from them until they be hatched, whereby also may be collected their great love to their young ones. And further, by their forward and timely coming out of their holes, Grevinus maketh a good observation, that their temperament or constitution, is more hot then any other Serpent.

The Grecians have all observed, that this kinde of Serpent is hard to be killed, except with a Vine-branch, which they say was demonstrated by Dionysius, who being turned by Juno into madnesse, one day falling fast asleep, this Serpent leaped upon him and awaked him, whereat he being angry, pre∣sently killed it with a Vine-branch. Some have affirmed that a small rod or bat covered with the skin of this Serpent, and so laid beside a man, driveth away all manner of venomous Beasts. A wilde Olive-branch or sprig wapped in this skin, doth cure the senselesse and benummed estate of the sinews, and also is good for many things, as Nicander expresseth in these verses:

Haec ubi jam crevit, caedentes ligna coloni Sectamdeglabrant oleastri ex arbore virgam, Quale pedum, strictis{que} prehensi pellibus Anguis Infectam obvolvunt, quas certis deinde diebus Exarere sinunt, cantantes ante cicadas. Ʋtilis hic baculus frigentibus artubus esse Fertur, ubi ex animis digitos torpedo fatigat, Tunc quia constrictos, & eorum vincula, nervos Calfacit immisso fovet extendit{que} calore.

Which may be Englished thus;

When this is grown, the Peasants cutting wood, Do peel a branch taken from Olive-wilde, A foot in length, of strained Snakes-skin good, Rowling it up herein, till days fulfild, And let it dry before Grashoppers green: Thus made, is good for Sinews cold, Or nummed fingers, whose force hath been By heat extending what cold band did hold.

The wounds that come by the biting or stinging of this Serpent, are not great, but very small, and scarcely to be discerned outwardly, yet the accidents that follow, are like to those which ensue the bitings of Vipers, namely, inflamation, and a lingering death. The cure thereof must be the same which is applyed unto the sting of Vipers. And peculiarly I finde not any medicine serving for the cure of this poyson alone, except that which Pliny speaketh of, namely Coriander drunk by the pati∣ent, or laid to the sore.

It is reported by Galen and Grevinus, that if a woman with childe do chance to go over one of these Double-headed Serpents dead, she shall suffer abortment, and yet that they may keep them in their pockets alive without danger in boxes. The reason of this is given by Grevinus, because of the vapour ascending from the dead Serpent, by a secret antipathy against humane nature, which suffocateth the childe in the mothers womb. And thus much for this Serpent.