SEVERN PROVINCE. 291 



" The viper or adder is fairly plentiful on the Cottes- 

 wolds. It is generally about 2 feet in length. The 

 ground colour varies in all shades between slaty-white 

 and warm reel-brown. The viper is often found in 

 close proximity to the common snake. The food of 

 the viper consists principally of mice, but Dr Henry 

 Bird informs me that he has often found in the 

 stomachs of vipers dissected by him the remains of 

 the common black dew-snail (Arion). The viper may 

 be found a little later in the year than the ring snake, 

 and appears to be able to withstand a somewhat greater 

 degree of cold. The smell of the viper is peculiar, and 

 I often discover them in spring by smelling them at a 

 distance of some yards. Dr Bird informs me that the 

 light-coloured vipers are males and that the brown ones 

 are females. I have always found light-coloured vipers 

 near or in stone walls, and brown ones upon dead 

 leaves or the litter of woodland undergrowth. The 

 viper refuses food in confinement, but all of mine 

 drank water every day, though they would not touch 

 a mouse. 



" With regard to the strength of the viper's poison, 

 I may mention the experience of Professor Eupert 

 Jones, who told me that he saw a very little viper, 

 about 6 inches long, crossing a road, and presented his 

 finger to it, which the reptile at once struck, inflicting 

 a painful wound. Mr Jones's hand swelled, and the 

 bite was, he said, as painful as the sting of a wasp." — 

 C. A. Witchell (as above). 



