COMMON VIPER. 



71 



some, with lighter or darker spots, in others almost wholly 

 black. 



The tendency of this species to vary in its colours has 

 occasioned an erroneous multiplication of species by various 

 authors. Some of the more remarkable and conspicuous 

 varieties I proceed to describe. 



The first is the Red Viper (F. communis, var. j3 of 

 Mr. Jenyns), described by my venerable friend the late 

 Rev. Thomas Rackett, in the twelfth volume of the Lin- 

 nean Transactions. It was found by him in Oranbourne 

 Chase in Dorsetshire, in which county I have also obtained 

 it from Poole Heath. It varies much in the brightness 

 and intensity of its colour. 



