REPTILIA—VIPER. 707 
inches long to three feet and upwards, variegated with rich chestnut brown 
spots or bands, on a lighter brown ground, the scales remarkably short, 
close set, and hard; the eyes are vertical; the head compressed, and covered 
with very minute dark brown scales, and reddish stripes. 
THE NE een.: 

THE common viper? is a native of many parts of Europe; but the dry, 
stony, and in particular the chalky countries, abound with them. In the 
East Indies, also, it is found, and varies very slightly from that which be- 
longs to Europe. It can equally support the vicissitudes of very cold 
climates, it being an inhabitant of Sweden, where its bite is nearly as 
dangerous as in the warmer regions of Europe ; and likewise of Russia, and 
of several parts of Siberia, where it is very numerous, as the superstitions 
of the people deter them from endeavoring to destroy this noxious reptile, 
because that they conceive some terrible disaster will follow the attempt. 
This animal seldom grows to a greater length than two feet; though some- 
times they are found above three. The ground color of their bodies is a 
dirty yellow; that of the female is deeper. The back is marked the whole 
length with a series of rhomboid black spots, touching each other at the 
points; the sides with triangular ones; the belly entirely black. It is 
chiefly distinguished from the common ringed snake by the color, which in 
the latter is more beautifully mottled; as well as by the head, which is 
thicker than the body; but particularly by the tail, which, in the viper, 
though it ends in a point, does not run tapering to so great a length as in 
the other. When, therefore, cther distinctions fail, the difference of the tail 
ean be discerned at a single glance. 
The viper differs from most other serpents in being much slower, as also, 
in excluding its young completely formed, and bringing them forth alive. 
The kindness of Providence seems exerted not only in diminishing the 


—_—- 
1The genus Vipera has scales on the head rough or granulated ; plates under the belly 
divided into two under the tail; poisonous fangs in the upper jaw. 
2 Vipera Berus, Cuv. 
