70 NATURE'S STORY OF THE YEAR 



further movement, and I stood for some seconds 

 spell-bound or fascinated. Then, like a flash, the 

 reptile disappeared under the bush. I ran to my 

 brother with a face so white that he at once guessed 

 the cause of alarm. I still remember distinctly the 

 shape and attitude of that reptile ; but I cannot 

 call to mind the zigzag black markings which must 

 have formed a line down the centre of its back. 



Some four years later I was again in danger of 

 actual contact with a viper. Walking slowly on a 

 path through a wood, I saw a very fine ringed- 

 snake disappear in the herbage, and cautiously 

 followed, but could neither hear nor see that 

 reptile. Bending down, I gently parted the dense 

 growth of spurge that covered the ground. The 

 movement revealed no ringed-snake, but a brightly- 

 coloured male viper coiled within six inches of my 

 outstretched fingers, which he was eyeing intently. 

 I struck at him with a stick, but without success. 

 Familiarity with the species enabled me to retain 

 from that moment of surprise not only an im- 

 pression of the general appearance and attitude of 

 the snake, but also a clear idea of its markings, 

 and even of the red vertical pupil in its eye. 



