Folio 68v - De scitali serpente; Of the snake called scitalis. De anphivena; Of the anphivena. De ydro; Of the ydrus.
it seems to have no spine.
Of the snake called scitalis
The snake called scitalis gets its name because it glitters with such a variety of colour on its back that it slows down those who look at it on account of its markings. And because it is not a keen crawler and cannot overtake the prey it pursues, it catches those who are stunned by the marvel of its appearance. It gets so hot that even in winter it casts off its burning skin, something to Lucan refers: The scitalis alone can shed its skin while the rime is still scattered over the ground' (Pharsalia, 9, 717).
Of the anphivena
The anphivena is so called because it has two heads, one where its head should be, the other on its tail; it moves quickly in the direction of either of its head, with its body forming a circle. Alone among snakes it faces the cold and is the first to come out of hibernation. Lucan, again, says of it: 'The fell amphisbaena, that moves towards each of its two heads' (Pharsalia, 9, 719). Its eyes glow like lamps.
Of the ydrus
A creature lives in the River Nile which is called idrus, because it lives in water. For the Greek word for water is idros
