520 OPHIDIANS. 



The Common Viper, of Europe, Vipera berus or V. communis, 

 is greatly feared, though its venom is said not to be as virulent 

 as that of the kindred reptiles found in -hotter regions of the 

 globe. It does not often happen that death follows the bite of 

 this species in the case of human beings. Ammonia or harts- 

 horn, given internally, and fomentations applied to the part, to 

 be gently rubbed afterwards with oil, are the remedies usually 

 employed. To persons laboring under general debility, or to 

 children of weak and irritable constitution, especially if the rep- 

 tile be in full energy, during the heat of summer, the bite of the 

 Common Viper is known to prove fatal. The surest remedies 

 for its bite, are the immediate removal of the poison by suction, 

 washing, excision of the part, &c. The Viper, as already intima- 

 ted, brings forth its numerous young alive. These, though but a 

 few inches in length, crawl about, and are as fierce as the parent, 

 throwing themselves into an attitude of defence when molested, 

 and hissing with anger. Mice, lizards, and nestling birds, are 

 the food of this species. 



The ESPING, of Sweden, or Aspic, of England, V. chersia, is 

 perhaps only a variety of the Common Viper, but is even more 

 virulent; seldom, however, more than six inches in length. The 

 rapid reproduction of the Common Viper, renders ineffectual the 

 many efforts which are made for its extermination. 



The genus Naja contains the HOODED or SPECTACLED SER- 

 PENTS, Cobra de Capello, characterized by having the head 

 covered with large plates, and the skin of the upper part of the 

 back dilatable, or capable of such expansion as to form a sort of 

 hood, impressed with a mark somewhat like a pair of spectacles. 

 (See Chart.) Their bite is deadly in the extreme. They are 

 found in Ceylon, from six to fifteen feet in length. The hood 

 and spectacles show themselves when the reptile is enraged and 

 preparing for an attack. The extension of the membranous 

 skin serves as a warning to those who are within reach of the 

 animal. The Naja tripudians, (Lat. dancing,) N. larvata, (Lat. 

 frightened, distracted,) are species of India. To N. tripudians, 

 the Portuguese originally gave the name of Cobra de Capelio. 

 The Naja haje, (see Chart,) is an African species, and indubita- 

 bly the one which the ancients have described under the title of 

 the Asp, or Aspis of Egypt, or of Cleopatra. The Najahs of 

 South Africa are said, when irritated, to expel poison from the 

 points of their fangs, and are supposed to have the power of 

 ejecting the poison to a distance. 



The Cobras are the serpents upon which the serpent charmers 

 in India and Egypt chiefly practice their arts, and which are 



