DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0340
404 ACCOUNT OF A SNAKE WHICH SUCKS COWS.
the maid himself. . . . It is very certain that she sees the
star.... As often as she comes to herself after she has
been in the white church, she repeats some passages out
of the Bible, but not the same every time, although she
cannot read, nor ever knew those passages before. I
thought this account would not be unacceptable to the cu-
rious in England, and could wish to know their judgment
upon it. The girl is still (Dec. 9th, 1710), in the same
condition : and if I can do your Lordship any pleasure in
it, I will acquaint you with what I hear further concern-
ing her.
Singular Account of a Species of Snake which sucks
Cows.
-A SPECIES of snake, called in Italy serpe nero, the co-
rben} natrix of Linnaeus, is said to be extremely fond op
milk, and the country people pretend that it makes its
way into the dairies to gratify that inclination. They
even assert that it is sometimes found entwined round
the legs of cows, sucking their teats with such avidity as
to draw blood when their milk is exhausted. Of this
fact, which by many had been considered as a popular
tale, Dr. Gabriel Anselmi, professor of anatomy at
Turin, had, in the month of August, 1802, an opportu-
nity of being an eye-witness. Walking (says he) one
morning according to custom, on the road called the
Park, bordered by pastures containing a great number of
sheep and horned cattle, I observed an old but vigorous
cow, separate from the others, and lowing with her head
raised in the air, her ears erect, and shaking her tail.
Surprised at the noise she made, I seated myself on the
bank of a stream, and with my eyes pursued her
wherever she went. After running for some minutes, she
stopped in a sequestered spot, and began to ruminate.
Inquisitive
the maid himself. . . . It is very certain that she sees the
star.... As often as she comes to herself after she has
been in the white church, she repeats some passages out
of the Bible, but not the same every time, although she
cannot read, nor ever knew those passages before. I
thought this account would not be unacceptable to the cu-
rious in England, and could wish to know their judgment
upon it. The girl is still (Dec. 9th, 1710), in the same
condition : and if I can do your Lordship any pleasure in
it, I will acquaint you with what I hear further concern-
ing her.
Singular Account of a Species of Snake which sucks
Cows.
-A SPECIES of snake, called in Italy serpe nero, the co-
rben} natrix of Linnaeus, is said to be extremely fond op
milk, and the country people pretend that it makes its
way into the dairies to gratify that inclination. They
even assert that it is sometimes found entwined round
the legs of cows, sucking their teats with such avidity as
to draw blood when their milk is exhausted. Of this
fact, which by many had been considered as a popular
tale, Dr. Gabriel Anselmi, professor of anatomy at
Turin, had, in the month of August, 1802, an opportu-
nity of being an eye-witness. Walking (says he) one
morning according to custom, on the road called the
Park, bordered by pastures containing a great number of
sheep and horned cattle, I observed an old but vigorous
cow, separate from the others, and lowing with her head
raised in the air, her ears erect, and shaking her tail.
Surprised at the noise she made, I seated myself on the
bank of a stream, and with my eyes pursued her
wherever she went. After running for some minutes, she
stopped in a sequestered spot, and began to ruminate.
Inquisitive