1 90 Observations upon the supposed 



was brought measuring in length between 17 in. and 18 in. and 

 of a bright light ash-colour, what is called a bright grey, 

 the dark spots inclining to that colour, but still dark enough 

 to be called black. Now, this latter specimen might be said 

 to form the grey species by any one falling in with the whim 

 of the day, which is to invent species by way of being 

 illustriously obscure. All these specimens were considered 

 the young of the common viper ; meaning thereby, E. N. D.'s 

 Vipera Berus ; the latter one a female, according to Pennant. 

 As to the blue-bellied species, the specimen mentioned as 

 answering to Pennant's description of the common kind 

 (namely, of a dirty yellow colour), had by much the bluest 

 belly of any seen; a variety of others, differing in colour, as 

 more or less dusky-grey or nearly black, also had blue bellies, 

 more or less deep ; so that, in fact, nothing can be plainer than 

 that the colour of blue, in a lesser or greater degree, is common 

 to all ; and these specimens, supposed to be of reddish hue, had 

 it also, but not so strongly. The dusky, or dark, or black 

 coloured specimens, as to colour, appeared the most decided ; 

 and, if colour could justify the placing of them as a distinct 

 species, the kinds of a dark colour might well be so classed. 

 But of this dark colour, as of the others, it is apprehended it 

 is a circumstance incidental to the age of the animal, perhaps; 

 and the time of the shedding of its skin has something to do 

 with it too, as appears from the following extract from the 

 writer's note-book : — " 1831. August. A viper was brought 

 to me the beginning of this month, in size (that is, thickness) 

 and length the biggest I had ever seen. It was a female, 

 measuring 2 ft. 2 in., of a colour so dark, that the rhomboidal 

 dark marks were barely visible ; and I persuaded myself that 

 there was a black kind of viper, and that it existed in Cum- 

 berland ; but in this supposition, I found, on further exami- 

 nation, I was mistaken. Having taken off the skin on 

 opening the belly, it was found to contain six young ones, per- 

 fectly formed, and apparently ready to come forth : they were 

 lying straight, and measured exactly 6 in. each ; the skin 

 darker than I expected to find it in young ones ; the marks 

 distinct, and every part beautifully perfect : they exactly re- 

 sembled the full-grown animal in every particular; and, in the 

 smallness of size, and exactness of proportions to that size, 

 reminded me of a butterfly on first breaking the chrysalis, 

 before the wings have expanded to the full size, when each 

 colour is as marked and perfect in miniature as in the perfect 

 insect. On taking the skin off a stretching stick, it must have 

 been near the time of casting it, as a dark but very thin skin 

 (except colour, almost like gold-beaters' skin) remained ad- 



