Class III. FRAGILE SERPENT. 47 



with very small lines composed of minute 

 black specks ; the sides are of a reddish 

 cast; the belly dusky, both marked like the 

 back; the tongue is broad and forky; the 

 teeth minute, but numerous ; the scales 

 small. 



The motion of this serpent is slow, from 

 which, and from the smallness of the eyes, are 

 derived its names. It is quite innocent. Like 

 others of the genus, they lie torpid during 

 winter, and are sometimes found in vast num- 

 bers twisted together. 



Doctor Borlase mentions a variety of this 

 serpent with a pointed tail ; and adds, that he 

 was informed that a man lost his life by the 

 bite of one in Oxfordshire. We are inclined 

 to think that his informant mistook the black 

 or dusky viper for this kind; for, excepting 

 that species, we never could learn that there 

 was any sort of poisonous serpent in these 

 kingdoms. 



In Sxveden is a small reddish serpent, called 

 there Asping, the Coluber Cher sea* of LinrKEus, 



* Gm. Lin. 10gi. Faun. Suec. 285. Laur.Amph.g7. Act. 

 Stock. 1749. p. 246. tab. 6. Pennant's Arct. Zool. Int. p. xc. 

 En. 



