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Scotch islands, but not occurring in Ireland, where indeed none of 

 our British reptiles have been found, excejDting where introduced. 

 The black viper is merely a very dark vai-iety, and he believed it 

 was not confined to the male sex, as Dr. Bird seemed to think. 

 Dr. Leach has figured this variety in his Zoological Miscellany 

 from the western islands, where it is said to be not uncommon. 

 He quoted " Charas," and " White's Selborne," in confimiation 

 of his belief that the young, from 20 to 24 in number, were excluded 

 all nearly about the same time. He read a statement in " Bell's 

 British Reptiles" to the effect that the poisonous secretion is rendered 

 more copious by local irritation, and also that, after inflicting one 

 or two wounds, rest was necessary to allow of the animal regaining 

 its powers before it could inflict others, the venom taking time to 

 secrete again or to acquire its proper strength. With regard to the 

 viper swallowing its young when in danger, the fact had been so 

 positively attested by Dr. Crisp and others that it could hardly be 

 doubted, however improbable it might appear. There was no 

 physical impossibility in the case. The sesophagus of the viper is 

 of great capacity, very dilateable, and, according to Charas, 

 not less than a foot long. There would be ample room for the 

 young brood to conceal themselves, supposing such to be the 

 habit of the species, and there would be no occasion for their 

 passing into the stomach, where digestion commences, or chance of 

 their being affected by the digestive process, as Dr. Bird intimates 

 would be the case. At the same time it would be very desirable 

 to have further evidence on the matter, and from persons who had 

 actually witnessed the young having recourse to such a place of 

 refuge or coming out of it. 



The Rev. H. H. Winwood adduced an instance ('vide " Science- 

 Gossip," May 1st, 1865) where a viper was actually seen to swallow 

 its young. The writer of the letter alluded to vouches for the 

 truth of his assertion that, when a boy with three or four com- 

 panions, he came suddenly upon a viper sunning her brood on an 

 open grassy spot, and that immediately on the writer's approach 

 she began to hiss, and away went her young towards the mother, 

 rushed into her mouth, expanded widely to receive them, and 

 disappeared down her throat one after another. On killing her 



