LETTER XXXI. 



'To the same. 



SELBORNE, April 29(6, 1776. 



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

 prised 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 them- 

 selves 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. 



