236 THE VIPER. 



ground : and we are still at a loss for the cause of 

 that strange and singular peculiarity in the instance 

 of the cuculus canorus. 



We found the case to be the same with the ring- 

 tail hawk, in respect to formation ; and, as far as I 

 can recollect, with the swift ; and probably it is so 

 with many more sorts of birds that are not grani- 

 vorous. 



LETTER LXXIII. 



TO THE SAME. 



SELBORNE, April 29, 1776. 

 DEAR SIR, 



ON August the 4th, 1775, we surprised a large 

 viper, which seemed very heavy and bloated, as it 

 lay in the grass, basking in the sun. When we came 

 to cut it up, we found that the abdomen was crowded 

 with young, fifteen in number ; the shortest of which 

 measured full seven inches, and were about the size 

 of full-grown earth-worms. This little fry issued 

 into the world with the true viper spirit about them, 

 showing great alertness as soon as disengaged from 

 the belly of the dam : they twisted and wriggled 

 about, and set themselves up, and gaped very wide 

 when touched with a stick, showing manifest tokens 

 of menace and defiance, though as yet they had no 

 manner of fangs that we could find, even with the 

 help of our glasses. 



To a thinking mind, nothing is more wonderful 

 than that early instinct which impresses young 

 animals with the notion of the situation of their 

 natural weapons, and of using them properly in their 

 own defence, even before those weapons subsist or 



