350 The Rev. T. Rackett's Ohiervatiom on a Viper, ^-c. 



I received the viper from the Rev. John Tregonwell Napier, 

 Rector of Chettle in Dorsetshire, who killed it in Cranborne 

 Chace. It is extremely rare, but known to the gamekeepers under 

 the name of " The Red Viper." A mutilated specimen sent to 

 me last year, was when recent of a bright red colour inclining to 

 oranse. The bite is much more venomous than that of the com- 

 mon viper ; as I have been assured that a dog which had been 

 bitten by a red viper, expired before he had reached the extre- 

 mity of a down in his way home. 



XXII. Be- 



