128 THE STORY OF REPTILE LIFE. 



who labour there. The experiment of importing 

 the mongoose to wage war against this terrible 

 creature proved a failure ; even this redoubtable 

 little warrior retreating before its venom and 

 seeking safer prey. The Pit-vipers are so-called 

 from the presence of a pit between the nostril 

 and the eye, supplied by branches of the 

 trigeminal nerve. Apparently sensory, the 

 function of the pit is unknown. Some sixty 

 species of Pit-vipers are known, and of these 

 probably the most remarkable are the dreaded 

 Rattle-snakes. 



We might remark that the only poisonous snake 

 in Great Britain belongs to the Viper family. 

 Fipera berus^ the Common European Viper. This 

 snake exhibits a preference for heaths, moors, and 

 woods. Brambles, clumps of nettles, and heaps 

 of stones are also favoured spots affording safe 

 cover. Mice form its principal food. 



The bite of the Common Viper, though attended 

 with great pain, is rarely fatal. The bitten limb 

 soon swells and becomes discoloured. Very 

 shortly after the deposit of the venom the victim 

 is overcome by great prostration, vomiting, and 

 cold perspiration, and experiences some difficulty 

 in breathing. In from twelve to twenty-four 

 hours the severity of the symptoms begins to 

 abate, but recovery may not take place for some 

 days later, and then is rapid. Death, however, 

 may occur from depression or the secondary 

 effects of the wound. The remedy is to apply 

 a ligature and bandages above the wound, then 

 to open the latter still further with a clean knife 

 and pour in Condy's fluid or bleaching powder. 



