1 792* enthv viper. 3.21, 



melon beds, in spite of all that my people can do to 

 prevent them ; which eggs do not hatch till the 

 spring following, as I have often experienced. Se- 

 veral intelligent folks afsure me, that they have seen 

 the viper open her mouth, and admit her helplefs 

 young down her throat on sudden surprises, just as 

 the female opofsum does her brood into the pouch 

 under her belly, upon the like emergencies ; and yet 

 the London viper catchers insist upon it, to Mr Bar- 

 rington, that no such thing ever happens. The ser- 

 pent kind eat, I believe, but once in a year ; or ra- 

 ther but only just at one season of the year. Country 

 people talk much of a water snake ; but I am pretty 

 sure without any reason; for the common snake (ro/?/- 

 bur natrix^ delights much to sport in water, perhaps 

 with a view to procure frogs and other food." 



Vo t?je honourable Dairies Barrington, esq. 

 Dear Sir, 



" In August 4. 1775, we surprised a large viper, 

 vhich seemed very heavy and bloated, as it lay in 

 ■ the grafs, balking in the sun. When we came to cut it 

 \ip, we found that the abdomen was crowded with 

 young, fifteen in number ; the fliortest of which mea- 

 sured full seven inches ; and were about the siv:e 

 of full grown earth worms. This little fry ifsued 

 into the world with the true viper spirit about them, 

 fhowing great alertnefs as soon as disengaged 

 from the belly of the dam. They twisted, and wrio-- 

 gled about, and set themselves up, and gaped very 

 wide when touched with a stick, fliewing manifest 

 tokens of menace and defiance, though as jet they had 



VOL. xi. s s f 



