﻿1 68 COLUBRIDJE 



sula and the Balearic Islands, Southern Switzer- 

 land, north and south of the Alps, Liguria, Pied- 

 mont, Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily. In Africa in 

 Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, penetrating into the 

 northern parts of the Sahara. 



In Liguria, Piedmont, and Ticino, T. viperimis 

 occurs alongside with T, fessellatus. It reaches an 

 altitude of nearly 4,000 feet in the Alps. 



Habits. — Very much the same as in the preceding 

 species, although slightly less thoroughly aquatic, 

 large individuals being sometimes met with at some 

 distance from water. Ponds and marshes are the 

 favourite abode of the Viperine Snake, huge num- 

 bers being often found on the borders, diving into 

 the water when disturbed. Frogs and toads, tad- 

 poles, newts, fishes, and large earthworms, are its 

 principal food when adult, the young feeding chiefly 

 on batrachian larvae, young fishes, and earthworms. 

 A case is known of this snake having eaten a water- 

 shrew {Crossopus fodiens). When a fish has been 

 caught, it is usually eaten on land ; in captivity dead 

 fish are rather readily accepted, provided they be 

 quite fresh. Some specimens bite when handled ; 

 others are as gentle as the Grass-snake. 



For hibernation, hollow trees, fissures in rocks, 

 holes in the ground or in railway embankments, 

 are selected, and numerous individuals sometimes 

 congregate in the same retreat. In the mild winters 

 of the South of Europe they remain quiet, without 



