devoted to the study of the arts. Besides his Recueil de Fragments de Sculpture antique en Terre cuite (4to., 1814), we have from him a very learned work, entitled Histoire de l'Art par les Monuments, depuis sa Décadence au cinquième Siècle, jusqu'à son Renouvellement au quinzième Siecle (3 vols., folio, 325 plates, Paris, 1810 -1823).

SERPENT.

The serpents, or ophidia, form a very natural class of reptiles, in general easily distinguished by the total absence of feet, not the slightest vestige of which is discoverable on the most minute dissection. Their motion is, notwithstanding, very rapid in some species, and is accomplished by means of the sinuosities, or folds, which they form with their bodies. When in a state of repose, they usually dispose themselves in coils, with the head in the centre; and many are enabled to spring to a certain distance by the sudden unfolding of these coils. Serpents are destitute of movable eyelids, or distinct tympanums. All have teeth, but they serve only to retain their food, and are not adapted to the purpose of nastication. They are long, very sharply pointed, and incline backwards. The venomous species have the maxillaries very small and movable, and in them are implanted two teeth much longer than the rest, and traversed by a canal, for the purpose of transmitting the poison. These fangs are projected forward in the action of biting, but at other times, are disposed along the roof of the mouth, in such a manner as hardly to be discoverable at first sight. The jaws of serpents are united by ligaments in such a manner as to admit of great extension, which enables them to swallow animals of much greater diameter than their own bodies. The tongue is remarkably extensible, and terminates in two long cartilaginous points. They have only one lung. The skin, in different genera, is annulated, coriaceous or granulated, or, most frequently, covered with scales. They feed on quadrupeds, reptiles, insects, or worms,and swallow their prey entire. They do not drink, and the power of digestion is slow, one meal serving them for weeks, or even months; but when an opportunity offers, they take an enormous quantity of food. The ribs are very numerous, and surround a great portion of the trunk. The muscles, even in the smaller species, are endowed with an astonishing power of constriction; and those species which attain the enormous dimensions of thirty feet or more, are enabled to destroy the

larger quadrupeds by involving them in their folds. Serpents inspire an instinctive horror in man and most animals. Their hissing, in some species, is truly startling; but, notwithstanding, most of them are perfectly harmless. In northern climates, they pass the winter in a torpid state, and change the epidermis in the spring. The eggs are rounded, and agglutinated in bead-like rows by a mucous substance, and, in the venomous species, hatch before they are excluded from the oviduct, and the young are born living. The females often take care of their young for a time, and, on the approach of danger, have been seen to receive the whole family in their throats, and, when it has passed, to restore them again to the open air. More than three hundred species are enumerated, most of which, including all the gigantic species, inhabit tropical climates. South America, in particular, abounds with them. The venomous species compose about one fifth or one sixth of the whole number; and among these are some whose bite is fatal in a few hours, and even minutes. But few species, and these inostly harmless, inhabit cold climates; and towards the poles, they seem to be entirely wanting. The venom of the European viper is neither acid nor alkaline, neither acrid nor caustic; is insipid to the taste, and harmless when taken internally; in short, possesses most of the external characters of simple mucus. It preserves its power after the death of the animal which furnished it. Its strength varies in intensity according to the warmth of the climate and season of the year, being much more dangerous in summer than in winter; as also according to the lapse of time which has intervened since the last bite, and the degree of irritation with which the action is performed. It is much more fatal to small animals than to large, and especially when they are much terrified. We have no true vipers in the U. States.-The boas or anacondas inhabit tropical America, and are, in general, easily distinguished by having the plates under the tail undivided. Some attain a gigantic size, and curl their tails about the trunks or branches of trees, and, in this position, lie in wait for the larger quadrupeds.-The pythons equal them in size, and pursue the same mode of life. They inhabit the tropical parts of the eastern continent. The species of hydrus are small aquatic serpents, having the extremity of their tails enlarged, and very much compressed; which conformation gives them greater facility in moving through

the water. They inhabit the intertropical parts of Asia, and the neighboring islands, and in some situations are very abundant. We shall now notice some of the most remarkable and best known species of the U. States. The rattle-snakes (crotalus) are exclusively American, and are celebrated for the violence of their poison. They are easily distinguished by the noisy instrument at the end of the tail, composed of horny sacks loosely inserted into each other. The banded rattle-snake grows to the length of four or five feet. It inhabits the Northern and Middle States from about lat. 46°, and is also found in the Western States, and beyond the Mississippi.-The diamond rattle-snake (so called from a row of large black rhomboidal figures disposed along the back) attains larger dimensions, and inhabits the Southern States. The same, or a very similar species, is found in South America.-The ground rattlesnake (C. miliarius) is a small species, inhabiting the Southern as well as the Western States. It has but two or three rattles on the tail, and is much dreaded, as its small size, and the slight noise of its rattle, render it more liable to be overlooked. -The copper-head (trigonocephalus tisiphone) is as dangerous as the rattle-snake, which it much resembles, but is destitute of the rattle at the extremity of the tail. The color is brown, with clouded spots of a deeper hue. It is widely diffused through the U. States.-The elaps fulvius inhabits the southern and south-western parts of the U. States. The length is about two feet, and the tail very short. It is marked with about twenty broad black rings, alternating with about as many yellow ones. The last are speckled with brown, and are whitish on the margin. The above are our principal poisonous serpents. The following are entirely harmless:-The hog-nose snake (heterodon) is a remarkable reptile. The nose is slightly turned up, and flattened in front, bearing a remote resemblance to the snout of the animal whose name it bears. It possesses the power of dilating laterally the head and upper part of the neck, and, in this state, makes a formidable appearance. It is widely diffused through the U. States, but, like many others, is not found eastward of the Hudson river. The black snake (coluber constrictor) is found throughout the U. States. The color is black, inclining to slate color beneath, with the throat and lips white. The scales are smooth. It grows to the length of six feet, and its motions are very rapid. The chain snake (C. getulus) is an allied species also, with smooth scales.

The colors are black and white, the black predominating. The white often forms transverse lines on the back, which unite on the sides, thus forming the semblance of a chain. The markings are, however, extremely variable; and individuals are found entirely black, thickly sprinkled with regularly oval white specks. It inhabits the Southern States, but is sometimes found as far north as New Jersey.-The coachwhip snake (C. filiformis) is a very long and slender species, rarely found, and only in the more southern states.-The water snake (C. sipedon) is found in all parts of the U. States, and is very common i the vicinity of Philadelphia. Its usu color is brown on the back, beneath pale. with indistinct dark spots; but the marsings vary exceedingly, and it is ofter, found transversely banded with white. This variation has given rise to much confusion in the books, where it is repeatedly described under different names. body is thick in proportion, and it attais large dimensions, sometimes growing to the length of five feet. It frequents exclusively the borders of streams, and, when disturbed. often takes refuge in them, and conceals itself at the bottom.-The striped or garter suake (C. sirtalis) is the most common species in most parts of the U. States. The color is brown above, with black specks and three longitudinal lines of greenish yellow. The collared snake (C. Edwards

The

); a small species, of a dark leaden color on the back, having a whitish band dis posed across the back of the head. It is found under the bark of trees, from la 43° to South Carolina.-C. Amanus (Say a still smaller species, with a remarkabiv small head; the color brownish above, and reddish beneath; the scales smooth. It is found, beneath stones and logs, in the vicin ty of Philadelphia, but is rare.-C. septemvittatus (Say); with seven longitudina blackish lines, three above, and four be neath; the general color, brown above, and yellowish beneath; a small species, inhaleting the Middle and Western States.-The scarlet snake (C. coccineus), beautifully marked with scarlet, black, and yellow, ir habits the Southern States.-The gree snake (C. astivus); a small species, entirely of a bright green color. The scales are cannated. It is found in the Southern States -C. vernalis; another green snake, resembling the former, but with smooth scales. inhabiting the Northern and Middle States.

The pine snake (C. melanoleucus); on of our largest species, attaining the length of eight feet. The color is whitish, with large blackish spots. It is common in New

Jersey, and is found in all the more southern and western parts of the U. States, and even beyond the Mississippi. It is of a gentle disposition, and is sometimes tamed and kept about houses.-The chicken snake, or house snake (C. guttatus), is a beautiful species. The body is elongated, somewhat flattened on the back, with smooth scales; the color whitish; a row of large brownish spots, bordered with black, upon the back; a second series of smaller and darker ones on each side, alternating with the former; beneath, with small, square, black specks. The abdominal plates and subcaudal scales are very numerous. It attains a large size, and inhabits all parts of the U. States, from Canada to Florida, as also the trans-Mississippi region. Although it is pretty constant in its markings, no one of our snakes has been the occasion of so much confusion among systematic writers; and it appears repeatedly in the books under a great variety of specific names. We have omitted, in the above account, several species which have been discovered, within a few years, in the region beyond the Mississippi, as also some of the Atlantic states, which are not well understood. There are probably many undescribed species in the U. States.-It may not be amiss to say a few words in this place concerning the glass snake of the Southern States. This animal is destitute of feet, and possesses many of the external characters of a serpent; but its anatomical structure shows it to belong to the family of lizards. It is excessively brittle, and is broken with the slightest blow; which circumstance has given rise to the name. (For the Sea-serpent, see that article.)

SERPENT-EATER (serpentarius); a remarkable South African bird, belonging to the rapaces, or birds of prey, but differing from the hawks and owls in having feet incapable of grasping, and very long legs. Accordingly, it keeps constantly on the ground, in sandy and open places, and wages continual war against reptiles, especially serpents, which it pursues on foot. It runs with great rapidity. In every respect except the feet, the anatomical structure is the same with that of the eagle. When this bird attacks a serpent, it covers its breast with one wing, to protect itself from the bite, and with the other strikes violent blows, until it has stunned its prey. It then breaks the cranium with the beak, and tears the reptile in pieces, or, if small, swallows it entire. The serpent-eater is easily tamed, and is often kept in poultryyards by the inhabitants of the cape of

Good Hope, for the purpose of destroying lizards, snakes, rats, &c. It soon becomes habituated to the poultry; but care must be taken not to leave it fasting too long, for on such occasions it does not scruple to satisfy its hunger with the young chickens. The wild bird is very shy, and difficult of approach. This bird is sometimes called the secretary, from some long feathers on the back of the head, in allusion to the custom of placing pens behind the ear.

SERPENTINE; an abundant mineral, which almost invariably occurs destitute of a regular crystalline form. A few instances of crystallized serpentine, however, have been observed, and the form appears to be a right rectangular prism. The massive varieties have a granular, or impalpable composition, and present red, brown, black, yellow, and gray colors, in veined, spotted, and other delineations. Fracture flat, conchoidal, or uneven; surface almost dull; lustre resinous, indistinct; streak white, acquires some lustre; translucent to opaque; sectile; hardness about that of calcareous spar; specific gravity 2.5. Serpentine is generally divided into two sub-species, the common and precious serpentine, the former of which consists of those varieties which are destitute of handsome colors, while the latter includes all such as, from the intensity and arrangement of their hues, are suited to purposes of ornament. Serpentine hard! ens on being exposed to the fire, and melts only (with great difficulty) on the edges. According to John, it consists of Silica Magnesia Alumine Lime

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Serpentine forms mountain masses, and beds in primitive rocks, and frequently contains crystals, grains, or compound nodules of various other species. cious serpentine, in particular, is often mixed with granular limestone. It is met with in most European countries, and occurs abundantly in the U. States, as at Middlefield and Newbury in Massachusetts, at Newport in Rhode Island, near New Haven in Connecticut, and in the Highlands of New York. Serpentine is turned, on the lathe, into vases, and also worked into different ornaments.

SERRA DA ESTRELHA (Mons Herminius);

could effect nothing, and suffered severi severe defears. The youthful Pompey

SERRE, COUNT DE. See De Serre) SERTORIUS, Quintus, a distinguished Roman general, born at Nursia, in Italy, at an early age served with reputation under Marius, against the Cimbri, and in Spain. As questor, in Cissipine Gaul, he led a body of troops to the aid of his native country in the Social war A. U,663, and lost an eye in the war, in which he fought with his usual bravery. In the quarrel of Marius and Syla, Sertorius at first took no part; but, in consequence of Syla's opposition to his election as consul, he joined the party of Cinna, and this be came connected, contrary to his intention, with Marvas After the death of Marius and Cinna, Sylla again acquired the acendency, and Sertorius was proscribed, and fled to Spain. Here is talents found a wide sphere of action. He endeavored to gun the affections of the Spaniards, and to organize a force capabse of resisting Syla, who had sent a large army for the sung-gation of Spain. The meats of Sertonus were unequal to the conflict, and be embarked at New Carthage, pessed into Africa, and took part in a war between the king of Mauritania and his subwcts, on the side of the latter. Having gained several victories, and aberated the Mauntanians, be was requested by the Lustamattis, who were treatened with war by the Recan geners. Annus, to take even mand of their fieres... Sert mus experty seized this opporno ty of encouting Sya lavested wa unimod powers be appeared at the head of the Lasians ans who paced the most import evesdence in him... Opposed to much superor forces be displayed the taxents of a skilful general, nogling the enemy by hasty marches, harising them by abus cades, attacking them in defies, and avad ing a general engagement where he was not sure of the viney, W2 800 men, be was thus enabard is mt fur Ran generis, at the bead of 12.30 futsalers ami okkk) cavalry, and to bond marty ad Scaun seunst them. Even Marreaus, whom Syla fina'y sent aeunst hun, and constanty rendirved ma new troops,

army into Spain, and acted in concert with Marcelas, met with no better suc cess. Yet Sertorius, from love of his cULDtry, would have consented to subunit, had the proscription against him been revoked, His fame even reached Mithridates, w offered him 3000 talents and forty st of war, on condition of his forming an liance with him. Sertorius, when fo with reluctance against Rome, and was unwilling to see the repubue humbied ce enfeebled, accepted the offer, on Mitondates consenting to restrict himself to the recovery of Behyria and Cappadora. He accordingly received the sum agreed upon, and was making preparationis pushing the war with greater vigor, wisz he perished by the treachery of his frenz Perpenna, who had formed a conspirat against hun, assassinated him at a feast, A. U. 62 Thus was Rome deuvered from a firmadabe enemy, who equated the greatest heroes of antiquity in mumry tuents, while he surpassed most of thei in the virtues of his character.

SERUL See Blood

SERVANT. See Master and Servant. SERVETUS, Michael, a learned Sparand, wettorable as a victim of reigns intrance, was born in 150, at V. Nueva in Arragon. He was the son of notary, who sent him to Toulouse for the study of the civil law. Excated by te discussions of the reformers in that ers, he began to read the Scriptures, and conduced his researches with so free a spurt, that be pruited a tract in disparagement of the orthodox doctrine of the Trinery, eccried De Treats Erroribus 15 i. worn prodantin was foowed the nex year by has Drogorum de Trinitate Lahr

His carenstances being depresant be erged fie some time with the Freedes busters of Lyons, as correctie of the press. He then went to Pars where he stated physic, and carried that sorore the same inquisitive wich disgusted him in the He gucated at Paris, but quarte worn, the faculty, and repaired to Charten meir Lyons, where he practised three years whence, at the instance of the arebbastop or Venne, be removed to the latter ery. Dung ts time he was in constant

vérespondence with Carvin, with whwa he disclassed points of controversy, Cumsiting him in respect to has writings and Aman necons. Of this confidence Calvin subseqency made a base use, by pro