Ham.
_Serpent with a Human Head_ (Vol. iv., p. 191.).--The following passage
from Gervasius Tilberiensis (_Otia Imperialia_, lib. i sect. 15.) shows
that the idea of the serpent which tempted Eve, having a woman's head, was
current in the time of Bede. I having not had an opportunity of finding
whereabouts in Bede's writings the passage quoted by Gervasius occurs:
"Nec erit omittendum, quod ait Beda, loquens de serpente qui Evam
seduxit: 'Elegit enim diabolus quoddam genus serpentis foemineum vultum
habentis, quia similes similibus applaudunt, et movit ad loquendum
linguam ejus."