84 OUR REPTILES. 



head and thigh-bones " of the ''death's-head 

 moth/' on the top of its cranium. Whether or 

 not its venom is fatal, we would strongly advise 

 our readers not to permit the Viper to make an 

 experimental dart at their shins. It is better to 

 indulge in a shudder when only a harmless snake 

 crosses our path, than make the mistake of 

 hugging a viper to our bosom. 



Snakes or vipers are not perhaps the easiest 

 of all animals to be determined by a novice ; at 

 any rate they will require some little observation 

 at first, until the eye is accustomed to see and 

 recognize the differences whereby one species 

 may be distinguished from another. There are 

 nevertheless some points of difference more than 

 usually distinct between the Viper and the Snake, 

 which will be apparent on comparing the de- 

 scriptions and figures. It may be premised that 

 in depth and tone of colour there is considerable 

 variation in some reptiles, and this is especially 

 the case with the Viper, so that no reliance should 

 be placed on that as a feature. In general colour 

 it is often brownish or olive, but this may be- 

 come nearly black, or it may be pallid grey, 

 nearly white, or of a warm red-brown. The 

 markings, however, are more permanent, a dark 

 mark between the eyes, a spot on each side the 

 hind part of the head, an obscure V, as though 

 it bore the initial of its name on its crown, and a 



