252 LETTER FROM DR. J. SHORTT. [Nov. 25, 
which was young, was 1 foot in length. These reptiles are generally 
found under stones and in rocky places ; frequently in the low country 
it is found in prickly-pear bushes (Opuntia vulgaris). 
‘In their habits they are extremely active for their size, and live 
on frogs, mice, birds, &c. On opening the Viper I procured on the 
Shervaroy Hills, I removed from its inside a Mynah(Indian Grackle), 
from a second in this place a field-rat, and from a third an immense 
toad was taken. These Vipers are readily killed by the slightest 
blow ; on one occasion I had one caught alive by fixing a noose 
round its body, but raising it from the ground and suspending it by 
the noose for a few seconds killed it. 
«The natives dread these snakes greatly, as their bite is said to 
prove rapidly fatal. Although they are common in this district, I 
have not heard of an instance of this occurring during a residence of 
five years at this place. Dr. A. Hunter, of our service, tells me that 
when he was Zillah Surgeon here, some years ago, a sepoy was bitten 
by one, and that the man’s life was saved by his sucking out the wound. 
During my stay on the Shervaroys, the first specimen that was brought 
to me was immediately recognized by my friend B. A. Daly, Esq., 
a coffee-planter, who related the following circumstance that oc- 
curred to him a few years ago. Mr. Daly was out shooting with a 
few dogs (mongrel spaniels), when he came upon one of these Vipers, 
and the dogs having attacked the snake before he could kill it, three 
were bitten, one after the other; the first died almost instantly, the 
second in about two hours after, whilst it was being carried home, 
and the third lingered for nearly three months from emaciation, 
general debility, loss of appetite, &c., and eventually made a good 
recovery. This we can readily understand : the first dog bitten re- 
ceived the largest quantity of poison, whilst the second received less, 
and when it came to the third the supply was no doubt all but ex- 
hausted, and the rapidity with which the wounds must have been 
inflicted left no time for fresh poison to be secreted. This accounts 
for the ultimate recovery of the dog. 
“In January last a lady at this place was returning from a walk 
with her child, followed by a bull-terrier puppy about six months 
old; her house was situated some distance from the gate, and the 
road on either side was covered with spear-grass. It was just dusk, 
The puppy suddenly darted in front and began to bark vociferously. 
Although the lady had seen nothing, she took alarm at the movements 
of the puppy, and called out to me as I happened to be passing by 
the gate at that moment. On going to see what was the matter, I 
found a large Viper coiled up in the centre of the road, and the puppy 
making a great noise from a respectful distance. The snake was 
closely coiled up, with the neck bent abruptly backwards, and the 
head fixed almost horizontally ; it began to puff itself out something 
after the manner of the Puff-Adder, and hissed loudly, intently watch- 
ing the movements of the dog, no doubt awaiting an opportunity to 
strike it, when I called the puppy away. The instant the puppy 
turned its head, the snake glided with the rapidity of lightning into 
the surrounding grass and disappeared. The next day it was killed 
