136 INTRODUCTION 



Although the Adder, Vtpera berus, is quite common 

 in many parts of England and Scotland, accidents 

 caused by its bite are rarely heard of, and cases of 

 death are few and far between. It is not so, how- 

 ever, on the Continent, where the same species, and 

 especially its close ally, the more southern V. aspis, 

 are responsible for many fatalities, due no doubt to 

 the more virulent action of the venom in a warmer 

 climate. 



In the French Departments Loire-Inferieure and 

 Vendee, where these snakes are very plentiful, three 

 or four cases of death are reported annually. From 

 i860 to 1868, 370 serious accidents to man have been 

 carefully recorded, 53 ending in death, not only in 

 the case of children, but also of adults of all ages, 

 in 10 cases within one to twenty-four hours. In 

 the Puy-de-D6me cases of death are of frequent 

 occurrence. In Germany and in Switzerland, 12 or 

 13 percent, of the cases on record have ended fatally. 

 Instances of death from the bite of the south-eastern 

 V. ammodytes are also not infrequent. On the other 

 hand, the bite of V. ursinii, which is but seldom 

 inflicted, is not known to have ever resulted in death. 



It must be borne in mind that accidents are much 

 more frequent in districts where the poorer classes 

 are in the habit of going about barefoot. 



Anyhow, it is certain that Vipers are a serious danger 

 in many parts of Europe, not only to man, but also 

 to horses, cattle, and dogs. And it is not surprising 



