G38 MR. H.T. USSHER ON VIPERA NASICORNIS. [Nov. 7, 



or determinations wherein I differ from those given in the British- 

 Museum Catalogue. 



3. On the Habits of the Horned-nosed Viper {Viper a nasi- 

 cornis). By Herbert Taylor Ussher, C.M.Z.S., Ad- 

 ministrator of the Government, Gold Coast. 



[Received August 1, 1871.] 



Having lately kept specimens of Vipera nasicornis in captivity, I 

 think that a few notes on their habits may not be uninteresting. The 

 first I had was a female, which I ultimately despatched along with 

 two males to this Society ; but Mr. Blissett, who took charge of 

 them to England, has since informed me that the female died on the 

 voyage. She was at first very sluggish, and I could scarcely get her 

 to move. One afternoon I went on to the terrace where her cage was 

 kept at Government House, and found the whole place swarming 

 with young ones. I carefully watched the process of parturition, 

 and found that the young snakes came from the mother in a sort of 

 skin ; this, however, they speedily rubbed off, and at once crawled 

 away in various directions. From this circumstance I am led to 

 infer that the mother does not care for her offspring, and that they 

 at once commence to shift for themselves. I gave away many of the 

 young ones, which numbered twenty-one in all, to various persons, 

 some to Mr. Blissett. Their colours were peculiarly beautiful, espe- 

 cially the lance-shaped mark on the head, which was like black 

 velvet. They were very venomous little creatures, one of them biting 

 a mouse and killing it in five minutes : this, too, on the day it was 

 born. 



The adult male is distinguished from the female by its brighter 

 colours. She is much darker and more grey, although I think 

 generally larger than the male. After the young were born the 

 female above referred to became very ill-tempered, and when the two 

 males were placed in her cage she turned round and bit one with 

 great violence, leaving one of her fangs about three-quarters of 

 an inch in length sticking in his back. He, however, appeared 

 not to suffer the slightest inconvenience and was never the worse 

 for it. 



When striking their prey these Serpents seize it with great ra- 

 pidity and firmness, and appear to shake it as a terrier would a rat. 

 A puppy died in a minute and a half after the stroke, although only 

 bitten in the ear ; a chicken only lived about ten seconds ! 



These reptiles are common in the Fantee country, but are rarely 

 seen, as they fly at the approach of man. 



Since then I have observed a fine specimen of Vipera rhino- 

 ceros, which is likewise found in the neighbourhood of Cape-Coast 

 Castle, seize and devour its prey. As soon as the rat (a full sized 



