CHAPTER XIX 



VIPERS 



You will find two kinds of vipers on the marshes — the 

 common viper, and a smaller "red viper." Both frequent 

 the "walls," and are not uncommon. 



As you walk along the desolate country early in the 3'ear 

 (as early as Good Friday), you may come across sluggish 

 vipers sunning themselves. At this season they are fattest, 

 for they " lay up" in holes in the bank in the winter; but in 

 the spring, after a shower of rain, when the sun bursts forth, 

 transfiguring the landscape, they come forth to enjoy the 

 day — both the larger and blacker female, and the lighter and 

 smaller male. Also, the smaller red viper are, upon such 

 days, to be seen coiled up on the walls or marshes ; in 

 short, in any position where they can lie dry. 



There they catch bumble-bees, beetles, frogs, and mice. 

 An old marshman told me he once saw a viper " setting with 

 his chaps open, and a big marsh-bee come and buzzed round 

 and round his mouth, till that went straight in." They will 

 lie in the dikes, too, with their open mouths just above water, 

 and trap the water-newts (swifts) "squiggling about jest like 

 an old eel." 



Should you be quick enough to catch the tail of one as he 

 glides into his hole, and pull upon it, you will find it a very 

 difficult thing to pull him forth, as you will a rabbit or a rat 

 in the clutches of a ferret. The old marshmen say they 

 "set out their scales to hold their selves," but I cannot tell 

 whether this be so. 



In the summer-time they are fond of lacing themselves 



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