fJ^T'- on the viper. 323 



■ *' They arc said not to arrive at their full growth 

 in Icfs than six or seven years ; but they are capable 

 of engendering at two or three. 



" The viper is capable of supporting very long ab- 

 stinence ; it being known, that some have been kept 

 in a box six months without food, yet did not abate of, 

 their vivacity. They feed only a small part of the 

 year ; but never during their confinement ; for if 

 mice, their favourite diet, fhould at that time he 

 thrown into their box, though, they will kill, yet 

 they will never eat them. Their poison decreases 

 iii violence, in proportion to the length of their con- 

 finement. 



" These animals when at liberty, remain torpid 

 throughout the v/inter ; yet, when confined, have ne- 

 ver been observed to take their animal repose. 



" The viper catchers are freq.uently bitten by them 

 m pursuit of their businefs ; yet we very rarely hear 

 of the bite being fatal. The remedy, if applied in 

 time, is very certain ; and nothing else hut sallad oil, 

 which the viper catchers seldom go witliout. The 

 axungta viperina, or the fat of vipers, is also another* 

 Dr Mead suspects tlie efficacy of this last, and sub- 

 stitutes one of his own in its place ; but we had ra- 

 ther trust to vulgar receipts, wiiich perpetual trials 

 have (hewn to be infallible. 



" The ancient Britains had a strange superstition 

 in respect to these animals ; of which there still re- 

 mains in Wales a strong tradition*." 



• See Pliny, book 39, chap, Ki. 



