SEVERN PROVINCE, 29] 
“ The viper or adder is fairly plentiful on the Cottes- 
wolds. It is generally about 2 feet in length. The 
ground colour varies in all shades between slaty-white 
and warm red-brown. The viper is often found in 
close proximity to the common snake. The food of 
the viper consists principally of mice, but Dr Henry 
Bird informs me that he has often found in the 
stomachs of vipers dissected by him the remains of 
the common black dew-snail (Arion). The viper may 
be found a little later in the year than the ring snake, 
and appears to be able to withstand a somewhat greater 
degree of cold. The smell of the viper is peculiar, and 
T often discover them in spring by smelling them at a 
distance of some yards. Dr Bird informs me that the 
light-coloured vipers are males and that the brown ones 
are females. Ihave always found light-coloured vipers 
near or in stone walls, and brown ones upon dead 
leaves or the litter of woodland undererowth. The 
viper refuses food in confinement, but all of mine 
drank water every day, though they would not touch 
a mouse. 
“With regard to the strength of the viper’s poison, 
I may mention the experience of Professor Rupert 
Jones, who told me that he saw a very little viper, 
about 6 inches long, crossing a road, and presented his 
t= 
finger to it, which the reptile at once struck, inflicting 
a painful wound. Mr Jones’s hand swelled, and the 
bite was, he said, as painful as the sting of a wasp.”— 
C. A. Witchell (as above). 
