246 VIPERIDJE 



bosniensis, but one from Jahorin in Bosnia, altitude 

 5,650 feet, preserved in the Bosnian Museum, is pro- 

 nounced by Werner to be an unquestionable V. aspis. 



Habits. — This Viper shows a predilection for hot 

 and dry localities. It is both diurnal and nocturnal, 

 and does not seem to wander far from its hole in a 

 rock or in the earth. It is slow in its movements, 

 but very irascible, and innumerable accidents, in 

 some cases fatal to man, are caused yearly in many 

 parts of France, where it is extremely abundant. 

 Its food consists principally of small mammals, 

 young birds, and lizards, but the very young eat 

 insects and worms. In France it retires into its 

 winter-quarters at the end of October or in Novem- 

 ber, and numerous specimens often congregate in 

 the same hole ; it resumes its activity towards the 

 end of March or the beginning of April, sometimes 

 as early as the end of February. In rare cases it 

 will even leave its retreat in the middle of winter, to 

 bask in the sun. In captivity it long retains its 

 savage temper, and usually refuses all food. 



Reproduction. — Vipera aspis pairs in April and May ; 

 the pair are entwined in each other's coils. The 

 young, four to eighteen in number, but rarely more 

 than ten, are born in August or September, and 

 measure 7 or 8 inches. 



Several cases of dicephaly in young specimens 

 have been described. 



