SCIENCE-GOSSIP 



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addition to its other synonyms. But it has a 

 silvery iridescent appearance, particularly on the 

 head, which in certain lights has a beautiful 

 bronze-green shimmer. Its head is small, oval, 

 and about half-covered with plates. It has also 

 two rows of small black spots along its back, and 

 a sort of cloudy stripe along its sides. Coronclla 

 Icevis has the credit of being spiteful and of biting 

 intruding fingers ; but all snakes will do this when 

 their progeny is in danger ; and its bite is harmless. 



The sub-order Ophidia viperiformes is divided 

 into two families, Viperida — to which our English 

 viper belongs — and Crotalidts, belonging more 

 especially to the new world. All have prominently 

 carinated scales, a broad angular head distinct 

 from the body, which is thick and heavy in 

 comparison with the colubrine snakes, and a 

 short tail, tapering suddenly to a point. The 

 English viper is of a much slighter form 

 than the family generally. The head, with but 

 few exceptions, is covered with small imbri- 

 cated scales instead of plates. Our English viper 

 is one of the few exceptions, having some small 

 plates on the front part of its head ; but curiously, 

 as if the peculiarity is not quite an established one 

 as yet, these scales vary considerably, even in 

 members of the same family. I have seen several 

 English vipers in the same cage at the Zoological 

 Gardens and no two alike in the matter of head- 

 scales, which, by the way, are never so large and 

 distinct as in the colubrine snakes. Though it seems 

 impossible to mistake the smooth polished scales of 

 the Coronella for the rough, dull carinated scales of 

 the viper, to distinguish the two it is better to rely 

 on the scales than on the colour, which varies in 

 most snakes and very much in the viper. Though 

 usually brown, it may be darker or paler, or 

 almost grey ; but the black markings are perma- 

 nent, beginning on the head where what is called 

 a V mark is very distinct, and continuing in a 

 very conspicuous zigzag line all down the back, 

 quite different from the dots in the other two 

 snakes. I believe that at the present time all 

 our three British snakes are represented at the 

 Zoological Gardens, and no better opportunity 

 of distinguishing them can be presented, than to 

 go and compare them. 



The viper loves dry, sunny places, and feeds on 

 mice and small birds. It is found in all parts of 

 Great Britain and Wales, but not in Ireland. 

 It is sluggish and unaggressive, except when 

 molested, and is easily avoided. 



Viperine dentition is peculiar to the whole sub- 



order. Like all snakes it has the two rows of 

 palate teeth for the retention of its prey, but in 

 the upper jaw it has only the pair of fangs, and 

 these are movable at will ; that is, brought forward 

 and erected for use, or lying back prone against 

 the jaw when at rest. The volitional movement is 

 very wonderful, and it is independent. You may 

 sometimes see one fang or the other working more 

 or less at the convenience of the reptile. It is 

 connected with a gland from which venom flows 

 through the tooth into the wound. The fang is 

 exquisitely fine, sharp and pointed, it is, so to 

 speak, " hollow " with a tiny slit close to the 

 point, and the venom flowing through the fang is 

 by the force of the bite ejected through this slit 

 into the wound. From the small size of our viper, 

 and the average coolness of England, the venom 

 is less virulent than in the tropical species. 

 Sunnyvale, Paignton ; May 10th, 1S94. 



THE GREAT AUK. 



A N example of the Great Auk and several eggs 

 have changed hands since our last number 

 went to press. A fine stuffed specimen of the adult 

 bird, together with a handsome egg, were privately 

 purchased by Mr. Rowland Ward, of Piccadilly, 

 London, for the large sum of 600 guineas. Both 

 specimens are said to have belonged to the late Mr. 

 Malcolm of Poltalloch. 



An interesting sale of two recently discovered 

 eggs of the Great Auk — -or to be more correct, the 

 Gare-Fowl — took place at Stevens' Sale-rooms, on 

 April 24th, when the auctioneer had quite a small 

 romance of discovery to unfold to his audience. 

 The owner of the eggs had recently attended a 

 sale of furniture, we believe at Chatham, and was 

 attracted by a "lot" of fossils and other natural 

 history specimens in a basket, which included an 

 egg of unusual appearance. He decided to invest 

 in this lot, and bid two shillings for it. A lady 

 seemed equally bent on acquiring the specimens, 

 and bid against him, until thirty-six shillings was 

 reached, when she retired, and allowed him to carry 

 off the lot at that sum. Now it was found that 

 there were two eggs in the collection, and these 

 the fortunate purchaser tied up in his handkerchief 

 and carried home some miles away on his bicycle ! 

 Careful examination and enquiry showed that both 

 specimens were eggs of the Great Auk — one a finely 

 marked example, though marred by an almost 

 imperceptible fracture. The other was more seri- 

 ously damaged. 



At the sale the fine specimen realised 260 guineas, 

 but the other was knocked down at 175 guineas. 

 We understand that the former was purchased by 

 Mr. Herbert Massey and the latter by Mr. Munt. 



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