one of the West-India or Carribbee islands, lying in about 15° N. Lat. It has its name from its snake-like form; and is about ten leagues in length and three in breadth. It was first discovered by the English in 1650, when it was filled with alligators and other noxious animals; but they, finding the soil fruitful, and proper for raising tobacco and corn, settled a colony on it, and imported live cattle, which have since multiplied exceedingly. But the colony not being settled under any public encouragement, each planter laboured for himself, and the island became a prey to every rapacious invader, which disheartened the inhabitants so much, that all industry was lost among them. Their chief suffering was from a party of wild Irish, who landed here after the Revolution, and treated them worse than any of the French pirates who had attacked them before. The people of Barbadoes, and other English Carribbees, knowing the value of the soil, several of them removed to Anguilla, where they remained for many years, and even carried on a profitable trade, though without any government, either civil or ecclesiastical. In 1745, their militia, though not exceeding 100 men, defended a breast-work against 1000 French who came to attack them; and at last obliged them to retire with the loss of 150 men, besides carrying off some of their arms and colours as trophies of their victory. Since that time the inhabitants have subsisted mostly by farming; though they still plant sugar, and the island is said to be capable of great improvements.

**ANGUINA.** See TRICOSANTHES.

**ANGUILLIFORM,** an appellation given by zoologists, not only to the different species of eels, but to other animals resembling them in shape.

**ANGUINUM ovum,** a fabulous kind of egg, said to be produced by the saliva of a clutter of serpents, and possessed of certain magical virtues. The superstition in respect to these was very prevalent among the ancient Britons; and there still remains a strong tradition of it in Wales. The account Pliny gives of it is as follows: "Prætere et ovorum genus in magna c. 3. Gallarum fama, omnium Graecis. Angues immune-ri testate convoluti, salivis faucium corporumque spu-mis artifici complexu glomerantur; anguinum appel-latur. Druidæ sibiles id dicunt in sublime jactari, fagique oportere intercipi, ne tellurem attingat: profugere raptem equo: serpentes enim insequi, donee arceantur amnis alicujus intervenit." — Of which the following may serve as a translation: (from Mafon's Caratacus; the person speaking, a Druid.)

But tell me yet

From the grot of charms and spells, Where our matron sister dwells, Brennus, has thy holy hand Safely brought the Druid wand, And the potent Adder-stone, Gender'd 'fore the autumnal moon? When, in undulating twine, The foaming snakes prolific join; When they hiss, and when they bear Their wond'rous egg aloft in air: Thence before to earth it fall, The Druid in his hallow'd pall, Receives the prize, And instant flies, Follow'd by the envenom'd brood, 'Till he crofs the crystal flood.

This wondrous egg seems to be nothing more than a bead of glass, used by the Druids as a charm to impose on the vulgar, whom they taught to believe, that the possessor would be fortunate in all his attempts, and that it would gain him the favour of the great. Our modern Druidesses (says Mr Pennant, from whom we extract) give much the same account of the *oxum anguinum*, glain neidr, as the Welsh call it, or the adder-gem, as the Roman philosopher does; but seem not to have so exalted an opinion of its powers, using it only to assist children in cutting their teeth, or to cure the chincough, or to drive away an ague.

These beads are of a very rich blue colour; some plain, others streaked. For their figure, see Plate XXXII. fig. 22, no 1, 2, 3.