OF VENOMOUS SEtlPENTS. $63 



quainted with one, in our more fortunate clime, and 

 that is seldom found but in dry chalky counties, as it 

 does not appear to thrive in a cold damp soil. The 

 ground-colour of the viper is ft dirty yellow ; the back 

 marked the whole length of it with rhomboid black 

 spots, each of which touches the other at the points: 

 the head is much thicker than the body ; and the tail 

 terminates in a point. It differs from most of the ser- 

 pent species from only being able to move forward 

 with a very slow pace, and from bringing forth its 

 young alive : it is capable of supporting very long ab- 

 stinence, and will never partake of any food whilst it 

 is confined. When the young viper is alaz'med or ter- 

 rified, it instantly runs down its parent's throat, and 

 remains in her stomach until its fears are subsided, 

 from whence it then makes a retreat. 



The usual method of taking these animals is to attack 

 them with a pair of wooden tongs by the tail ; not- 

 withstanding which the viper-catchers are often bit by 

 them, but are cured by an application of olive-oil rub- 

 bed into the part over a chaffing-dish of charcoal, until 

 the pain and swelling entirely abate. The broth of this 

 reptile was once held in high estimation as a most 

 powerful restorative ; and one viper put to a quart of 

 water, and boiled until it became a pint, has been 

 said to produce the most surprising effects. 



The rattlesnake is an inhabitant of the New Conti- 

 nent ; the usual length is four or five feet, though they 

 are sometimes known to measure six ; and the bodies 

 of those are about as thick as a man's thigh. Though 

 larger than the viper, it bears a resemblance to it, 

 having a large head and a small neck ; but the eye is 

 furnished with a nictitating membrane, and over each 

 is suspended a large scale. The fangs of this animal 



