under water at once in the sight of the whole fleet," Harris, Voyages, vol. ii. p. 475.

"P. Van den Broek says, that at Golconda there are serpents of prodigious size, the bite of which is instantly mortal; and observes further, that whenever these creatures are seen at sea, it is a certain sign of their being near the Indian coast.”

"Admiral Verhoven tells us a singular story of a sea serpent in the straits of Sincapoua. A seaman, washing himself by the ship's side, was seized by one of these creatures, on which he roared so loud, that one of his companions threw him a rope, and pulled him into the ship: but the serpent had torn such a piece out of his side, that he died immediately. The serpent continued about the ship, till at last it was taken, and was the largest they had ever seen. On opening its belly, they found therein the piece of flesh which he had torn from the sailor, and which they buried with him," Harris, ib. Adm. Verhoven's Voyage, p. 92.

I see no reason for doubting the existence of true sea serpents at least equal in dimentions with land serpents: I think I have read of some eight or nine feet long; but whether these possess venom I do not know. However, the stories quoted may justify the sacred writers in speaking of sea serpents, which they call nahash: as Amos ix. 3. "Though they hide in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, nahash, and he shall bite them."

The reader will connect with this, the recollection that we have a nahash also in the heavens, for so Job expresses himself, xxvi. 13. "By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent." This crooked serpent, whatever constellation it may be, is clearly referred to the heavens ; and whether it is, as some have supposed, a constellation around the north pole, or, as others think, the milky way, whose tortuous course not unaptly represents the windings of a serpent's form and track, can only be hinted at, not fully discussed, in this place.

I would merely hint further, that since it was a nahash which tempted Eve, not a peten, nor a tjephon, it is of consequence to notice the application of this word; lest, peradventure, we should attribute that action to a serpent of a kind totally different from what was designed by the sacred writer; which error could only be the occasion of others, perhaps not equally innoxious.

I take the present opportunity of suggesting a thought or two, on the existence of flying serpents; as Scripture is usually un

derstood to mention them.

Michalis says, Quest. lxxxiii. speaking of such serpents," Although modern naturalists have not communicated any satisfactory information respecting flying serpents, yet they are so often spoken of by the ancient writers of nations near to the equator,