496 Reptiles. 



young ones, 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 

 they were disengaged from the body of their parent. 

 They twisted and wriggled about, set themselves up, and 

 gaped very wide when touched with a stick ; exhibiting 

 manifest tokens of menace and defiance, though as yet 

 no fangs could be discovered, even by the help of glasses. 



Vipers attain their full growth in seven years ; they 

 feed on frogs, toads, lizards, and other animals of that 

 kind, and it is even asserted that they catch mice and 

 small birds, of which they seem very fond. They cast 

 their skin every year. The two front teeth in the upper 

 jaw of the Viper are furnished with a small bladder 

 containing poison. There is no doubt but this poison, 

 which appears to have been infused into the jaws of the 

 Viper and other serpents by Providence, as a means of 

 revenge upon their enemies, is so harmless to the animal 

 itself, that when swallowed by it it only serves to ac- 

 celerate its digestion. These venomous teeth or fangs 

 stand, each by itself, upon a small movable bone ; this 

 arrangement enables the creature to fold down its fearful 

 weapons in the mouth, and to erect them instantly when 

 it has occasion to make use of them. The Viper is very 

 patient of hunger, and may be kept more than six months 

 without food. When in confinement, it refuses all sus- 

 tenance, and the sharpness of its poison decreases in 

 proportion : when at liberty, it remains torpid through- 

 out the winter ; yet, when confined, it has never been 

 observed to take its annual repose. 



The Viper is a native of many parts of this island, 

 chiefly the dry and chalky counties. Its flesh was for- 

 merly used for broth, and much esteemed in medicine, 

 particularly to restore debilitated constitutions. It was 

 also used as a cosmetic, being supposed to render the 

 complexion fair. It was probably from the use made 

 by the ancients of this animal in medicine that Escula- 

 pius is represented with a serpent. The best remedy 

 against the bite of the Viper is to suck the wound, which 

 may be done without danger, and after this to rub it 

 with sweet oil, and poultice it with bread and milk. 



