different Species of Viper. 191 



hering to the stick, whilst I held a pretty thick one in my 

 hand, of a bright ash-colour in the light parts, and dark only 

 in the rhomboidal marks, which were as distinct and visible as 

 an oil painting becomes when rubbed over with varnish or 

 a wet sponge. After this there could, I thought, hardly be a 

 doubt of the non-existence of the black viper." And a similar 

 observation has been made of a male viper, which measured 

 15 in., and was as dark, or darker than the female just men- 

 tioned. A thin dark skin, or, perhaps, more properly terming 

 it, cuticle, peeled off, and left the under skin much lighter, 

 the dark marks distinct ; and, though inclining to grey, the 

 colour of the under skin could not be mistaken, by a casual 

 observer, for black, or anything approaching to it. 



Upon the whole, so far as observation and fact have been 

 had, and with the concurring testimony of observers eminent 

 as naturalists, it is concluded, that there is but one species of 

 venomous reptile in these islands, and certainly but one in 

 the county of Cumberland ; for, as before mentioned, taking 

 colour as a test of difference of species, all enquiries have 

 been answered, both by gentle and simple, as the phrase is, 

 i( A black thing, like," or, " Dark-coloured," in all parts of 

 the country. 



Having, then, shown that the four or five different species 

 have been admitted as such upon the most vague and contra* 

 dictory accounts, another question presents itself; namely, Is 

 there any better reason for admitting the animals described as 

 differing in colour even as varieties ? As already remarked, 

 mere systematists are mainly to blame for much of this kind of 

 fertile work; and, seeing into what errors the filling up of 

 systems have led to, it is time to ask if the varieties have any 

 better claims to admission than the discarded species ? It is 

 thought not; and the variance in colour, if it be not mere 

 fancy, is thought to be incidental to the animal in its pro- 

 gressive stages to its maturity, and depending upon, it may 

 be, sex, or age, or season (particularly the skin-shedding 

 period), or locality, or food ; mere accidents in the individual, 

 which no more change its kind than a piebald, or chestnut, 

 or black colour does that of a horse. Then let it be enquired 

 into ; and as fact, derived from actual observation by accurate 

 enquirers, shall determine, so let it be.* 



* As a history of British Reptiles is announced for publication, we have 

 inserted the above article (which has been some time in our possession) ; 

 and though the line of argument which the writer has adopted does not 

 much affect the general question, perhaps his remarks may attract the 

 attention of some of our correspondents, who may have collected some 

 fresh facts relating to this subject. — Ed. 



p 4 



