354i CLASS REPTILIA. 



had their partisans, and applications of pounded green to 

 bacco leaveS;, and several other plants. 



The remedies used in Europe against the bite of the viper 

 have also been employed, such as Eau de Luce, liquid am- 

 moniac, opium, and arsenical preparations. But none, in 

 fact, of the vegetable applications appear to have any certain 

 effect ; and the treatment which we have already vindicated 

 in our observations on the crotalus, and what we shall fur- 

 ther point out when we come to speak of the vipers and the 

 Naia, can only be relied on with any degree of confidence. 



The Vipers were originally united by Linnaeus under his 

 genus coluber, with serpents of a totally different and per- 

 fectly innoxious character. They now very properly form a 

 distinct genus. 



The Commo7i Viper, Col. Berus. L., is an animal whose 

 size and appearance are far from being formidable. Its 

 forked tongue, which is very extensible, is, however, soft, and 

 quite incapable of making dangerous wounds, and shooting a 

 mortal poison, as has most absurdly been believed, and even 

 been asserted in several works, otherwise entitled to respect- 

 able mention. The two sharp languets which terminate it, 

 make it indeed resemble a double dart, which the reptile 

 brandishes in his mouth, especially when he threatens to 

 bite. But the resemblance is deceitful, and the comparison 

 made in consequence of it, to Slander, totally erroneous. 



Such however is not the case with the venomous fansrs with 

 which the viper is armed, and of which we have already 

 given an ample description. 



The appearance, as we have said, of this reptile, is as harm- 

 less as its poison is dangerous. Its length rarely exceeds 

 two feet, its shape is clumsy and inelegant, its colours dull 

 and sombre, its motions of no great agility, and in short, its 

 exterior altogether could never attract that attention which 



