M4 THE DEATH ADDER. 



The Viper seems to be well aware of the power of its fangs, and to discriminate 

 between animate and inanimate antagonists. I have tried in vain to make a Viper 

 bite a stick with which I was irritating it, but no sooner did a kitten approach than 

 the reptile drew back its head, and made its lightning-like dart at the little creature with 

 such rapidity, that it would have gained its point had not its back been so much 

 injured as to deprive it of its natural powers. 



The ordinary food of the Viper is much the same as that of the common Snake, and 

 consists of mice, birds, frogs, and similar creatures. It is, however, less partial to 

 frogs than the common Snake, and seems to prefer the smaller mammalia to any other 

 prey. The young of the Viper enter the world in a living state, having been hatched 

 just before they are born. The fat of the Viper was once in high estimation as a drug, 

 and the older apothecaries were accustomed to purchase these reptiles in considerable 

 numbers. Even now this substance is in some repute in many agricultural districts, 

 being employed as a remedy for cuts, sprains, or bruises, and especially as a means of 

 alleviating the painful symptoms of a Viper's bite. 



DEATH ADDER. Acamhophls antarctica. 



The color of the Viper is rather variable, but the series of very dark marks down 

 the back is an unfailing sign of the species, and is permanent in all the varieties. 

 Generally the ground color is grayish olive, brown, or brownish yellow ; along the 

 back runs a chain of zigzag blackish markings, and a series of little triangular spots is 

 found upon each side. The largest specimen I have yet seen in a wild state was one 

 of the yellow varieties. Sometimes the ground is brick-red, and now and then a nearly 

 black specimen is found. Mr. Bell mentions an example where the ground color was 

 grayish white, and the markings jetty black. 



THE reptile that is called by the significant title of DEATH ADDER, or DEATH VIPER, 

 is a native of Australia, where its poisonous fangs render it an object of much fear. 

 A very excellent, though short description of this Snake, is given by Mr. Bennett in 

 *"" "Wanderings in New South Wales." 



his 



3 V T C* U VI V* * A I Jg h * IA A * \- " ^/ v/ n i. a * TTU.iv.iJ* 



" The most deadly Snake in appearance, and I believe also in effect, is one of hideous 



