Viper 



LETTER XXXI. 



To the 



SELBORNE, April 2gth, 1776. 

 EAR SIR, On August the 4th, 1775, we 

 surprised a large viper, which seemed very 

 heavy and bloated, as it lay in the grass bask- 

 ing 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 them- 

 selves up, and gaped very wide when touched with a stick, 



