The Natural History of Selborne 77 



Common snake 



animals, as I have observed, by keeping them alive for some time 

 myself." ] 



Linnaeus, in his " Systema Naturas," hints at what Mr. Ellis 

 advances more than once. 



Providence has been so indulgent to us as to allow of but one 

 venomous reptile of the serpent kind in these kingdoms, and that is 

 the viper. As you propose the good of mankind to be an object 

 of your publications, you will not omit to mention common salad 

 oil as a sovereign remedy against the bite of the viper. As to the 

 blind worm (Anguis fragttis^ so called because it snaps in sunder 

 with a small blow), I have found, on examination, that it is perfectly 

 innocuous. A neighbouring yeoman (to whom I am indebted for 

 some good hints) killed and opened a female viper about the 27th 

 of May : he found her filled with a chain of eleven eggs, about the 

 size of those of a blackbird ; but none of them were advanced so 

 far towards a state of maturity as to contain any rudiments of 

 young. Though they are oviparous, yet they are viviparous also, 

 hatching their young within their bellies, and then bringing them 



1 The newt is not the larva of the lizard, but is an amphibian belonging to a 

 distinct order. It passes, however, through a tadpole state, during which it is 

 provided with fish-like gills. In White's time, the relations of the two were ill 

 understood. For particulars, see any good modern work on natural history. ED. 



