Habits of the Viper. 441 



Here I may mention, that, during the present spring, great 

 numbers of live ortolan buntings have been brought to the 

 London markets from Prussia. It is not unlikely, therefore, 

 that, from time to time, some of these may escape from captivity 

 and be retaken in the southern counties. For this reason, it 

 will be necessary to scrutinise very narrowly any specimen that 

 may occur, and not only as regards the appearance of its quill 

 and tail feathers (which may have been moulted), but more 

 particularly that of its feet and claws, which are almost certain 

 to retain traces of protracted captivity : should the upper 

 mandible be found to grow over, also, this would be a sus- 

 picious character. I have known more than one instance of 

 small birds escaping from the market-people, which, having 

 been newly caught, could not have been afterwards recog- 

 nised as cage specimens. The bearded reedling is brought 

 in immense numbers to the London markets ; and I once 

 received a specimen of this bird which was knocked down in 

 Surrey with a stone, several miles from any haunts to which 

 it could naturally have resorted. I could also enumerate two 

 or three species of tropical finches which have been captured 

 at large in the same county. Specimens, however, that have 

 been once confined, will always be found to be more at home 

 in the cage, when first caught, than others. 



There is a fine male ortolan, now alive and doing well, in 

 the Zoological Gardens, which was taken last winter in a 

 bird-catcher's net, near the metropolis, along with yellow 

 buntings. This bird was exceedingly wild when first caught, 

 and exhibited no sign whatever of previous captivity. That 

 it came over of its own accord is, also, the more likely, as I 

 cannot learn that, before the present season, any live speci- 

 mens have been imported. — Edward Blyth. July 10. 1837. 



Habits of the Viper. — The curious fact stated, at p. 383., 

 by Capt. Manby, I am in so far able to corroborate, as that I 

 have twice received information of it from different persons, 

 one of whom was a regular viper-catcher, who spoke of it as 

 a common occurrence; the other, a man who had killed one 

 of these reptiles, and, returning by the place some hours 

 afterwards, found another in contact with it, as described, 

 which he also destroyed. 



Many persons doubt that the young vipers retire, upon 

 alarm, within the mouth of their parent; but I have been 

 informed of this by so many credible eye-witnesses, that I can- 



gradually in spring, and not altogether, as in that species, it is probable 

 that they never breed in society. 



Vol. I. — No. 8. n, s. k k 



