110 



THE COMMON VIPER, OR ADDER. 



neighboring countries, besides being distribiited over nearly the whole continent. It is much 

 dreaded, and with reason, for its bite is very severe, and in some cases will cause death. As 

 is the case with other venomous reptiles, the Asp is most dangerous during the hottest months 

 of the year, and it has well been remarked that there is probably some connection between the 

 electrical state of the atmosphere and the venom of Serpents, as the poison is always most 

 deadly and the creatures most lierce when the electrical conditions of the atmosphere are 

 disturbed, and the thunder-clouds are flying quickly through the air. When a person is 

 bitten in one of his limbs, he quickly digs a hole and buries the injured part below the 

 surface of the earth, as the fresh mould is thought to be very efficacious in alleviating the ill 

 effects of the poison. Should the injury be in a toe or a finger, the rougher but more effectual 

 remedy of instant amputation is gener'ally employed. 



The color of this reptile is olive above, with four rows of black spots. The two middle 

 rows are often placed so closely together, that they coalesce and form a continous chain of 

 black spots along the spine, very like the well-known markings of the common viper. 



SAND-NATTER- Vipera ammodytes. 



Another venomous Snake, the Ammodyte, or Sand-Natter {Vijyera ammodytes), 

 belongs to the same genus as the asp. 



This reptile inhabits southern Europe, and is generally found in rocky localities. The 

 bite of this creature is very dangerous, and the remedies employed are generally of little 

 efficacy. Enlarging the wound with a thorn, and squeezing a garlic upon the part bitten, is 

 the general mode of alleviating the pain, but is of little use to the injured person. Its color is 

 olive above, -mth. a broad oblique dark streak on each temple, two similar streaks on each side 

 of the head, and a wavy dark line along the crown of the spine. 



The common Viper, or Adder, is very well known in many parts of Europe, but in some 

 localities is very plentiful, while in others it is never seen from one year's end to anothei-. 



Many persons mistake the common grass Snake for the Viper, and dread it accordingly. 

 They may, however, always distinguish the poisonous reptile from the innocuous, by the 



