COMMON VIPER. 



67 









The first is the Red Viper (V. communis, var. /3 of Mr. 

 Jenyns), described by my venerable friend the Rev. Thomas 

 Rackett, in the twelfth volume of the Linnean Transactions. 

 It was found by him in Cranbourne Chase in Dorsetshire, 

 in which county I have also obtained it from Poole Heath. 

 It varies much in the brightness and intensity of its colour. 



The specimen which I here figure, and from which I give 

 the following description, was taken in the neighbourhood of 

 Fordingbridge, in Hampshire, and was kindly forwarded to me 

 by Dr. Thackeray, Provost of King's College, Cambridge, by 

 whom I am informed that, of great numbers of Vipers which 



