REPTILES. 



Boa Constrictor, attacking a Lascar 



Common Viper 



I r*> 





The Common Viper is spread all over Europe, selecting, 

 for its haunts, dry woods, sandy heaths, peat-lands, and 

 sunny banks. It sometimes goes by the uame of Adder. 

 It is venomous, yet not so dangerous as is often thought. 

 It bites only in self-defence, or when suddenly molested, 

 nor is its bite necessarily mortal. 



The Egyptian Cerastes was well known to the ancient 

 Egyptians, and is found sculptured abundantly in their 

 temples. Herodotus speaks of them, though incorrectly, 

 if he referred to the creature in its natural state. It 

 inhabits the sandy desert, where in crevices it lies, for 

 successive days, luxuriating in the sun, and being colored 

 like the ground, there is danger of treading on and being 

 wounded by it. Its food is mice, small reptiles, &c. It 

 never drinks, apparently, and can endure much hunger. 

 It is one of the snakes used by the so-named serpent- 

 charmers of the east. The bite is mortal. 



W; 



<tsse&j 



Python, seizing a Traveller. 



Egyptian Cerastes. 



Common Viper. 



