OP SELBORNE. 303 



We found the case to be the same with the ring-tail 

 hawk, in respect to formation ; and, as far as I can re- 

 collect, with the swift ; and probably it is so with many 

 more sorts of birds that are not granivorous. 



I am, &c. 



LETTER XXXI. 



TO THE SAME. 

 DEAR SIR, SELBORNE, April 29, 1776. 



ON August the 4th, 1775, we surprised 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 

 earthworms. 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 themselves 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. 



To a thinking mind nothing is more wonderful than 

 that early instinct which impresses young animals with 

 the notion of the situation of their natural weapons, 

 and of using them properly in their own defence, even 

 before those weapons subsist or are formed. Thus a 

 young cock will spar at his adversary before his spurs 

 are grown ; and a calf or lamb will push with its head 

 before its horns are sprouted. In the same manner did 

 these young adders attempt to bite before their fangs 

 were in being. The dam, however, was furnished with 

 very formidable ones, which we lifted up (for they fold 



