2497. When these spirits were examined by the angels, then it appeared what they are like and by which snakes they are portrayed: up to the right thigh or shin, it appeared as a creeping snake-so they were not turned into snakes, but the rest appeared as human. They were not changed into snakes for the reason that they had been examined only by outward angels from among inward ones. If it had been done by inward angels, it would have been different, then they would have appeared as snakes in their whole length, in their proper form by which the kind of deceit is represented. Now because their appearance is quasi-human, or upright outwardly, and because they are liked and do not wholly destroy mankind-because they have not that much audacity-therefore something human appeared, such as also the childlike quality in their speech.