British Reptiles and Amphibians 



it can strike with remarkable rapidity. In striking it 

 darts its head towards its victim, the jaws close for 

 a second, and the poison is poured into the wound. As 

 quickly as it strikes it retreats, assuming the same 

 position. Of course, the animal can bite as viciously 

 without thus coiling itself, and when in pursuit of prey 

 it often kills its quarry while on the move. 



In the Highlands of Scotland dogs employed on the 

 grouse moors or those used as sheep-dogs are some- 

 times bitten by Adders while at work. Doubtless such 

 injuries are the direct result of the Adder being 

 disturbed and alarmed by the presence of the dog, 

 rather than of what may be termed " wanton aggressive- 

 ness." A dog that has been bitten by an Adder generally 

 suffers acute pain for days. The writer heard a 

 shepherd once give a very simple recipe for the bite of 

 an Adder. He said : " Wrap the bite in Archangel 

 Tar, and let the dog sleep." Not so very long ago, 

 and even yet in some quarters, flockmasters in the 

 Highlands implicitly believed that the strong scent given 

 off by goats frightened Adders from the hill pasturages. 

 In not a few instances it was actually stated that the 

 goats devoured the Adders : hence some sheep-owners 

 kept a flock of goats amongst their sheep. An old 

 shepherd told the writer that he had often seen the 

 goats killing the Adders with their feet and then 

 devouring their victims. It is, however, scarcely 

 credible that the herb-eating Billy should turn 

 carnivorous and swallow a poisonous reptile. But 



44 



