NOTES AND QUERIES. 519 



about ten minutes. Strangely enough, after this it refused to feed, and 

 died of starvation the following November. The young were totally 

 ignored by the mother, although when at rest they generally kept near her 

 (avoiding the male), invariably lying upon or around her, and at the 

 slightest alarm slipping under and along the coils of her body, thus dis- 

 appearing from view. This habit has no doubt given origin to the numerous 

 reports of female Vipers temporarily swallowing their families till danger 

 was past. — F. W. Terry (10'2, Kingston Road, Wimbledon, Surrey). 



Viper killed by a Mouse. — I was in the same district last July, and 

 captured, amongst others, a very fine gravid female, with which I hoped to 

 be more successful than in the previous year ; but the result was still 

 more disastrous. Although particularly vicious at first, after a few weeks' 

 confinement it became sufficiently docile to allow free handling. Some 

 time previous to giving birth it became sickly, and the young, when born, 

 soon died. Guided by my previous experience, I tried it with a Mouse, 

 but this was ignored, and for over a week both lived on perfectly happy 

 terms. One evening, on going to feed the Mouse, I was amazed to find it 

 hanging on to the Viper's head, like a miniature Bull-dog, the unfortunate 

 reptile vainly endeavouring to shake it off. I promptly killed the aggressor, 

 and found also that it was necessary to treat the Snake likewise, for, on 

 examination, I found that both eyes had been eaten out, and the maxillary 

 bearing the poison-fang bitten through. How the Mouse passed unscathed 

 is a mystery, for the Snake, although weak, was quite capable of striking, 

 the uninjured fang being erected freely after the attack. Was it instinct 

 that taught this (a house Mouse) that a dangerous enemy deprived of sight 

 became practically harmless ? Certainly, it was not hunger, for plenty of 

 fresh food remained untouched. — F. W. Terry (102, Kiugston Road, 

 Wimbledon, Surrey). 



[I had a somewhat similar experience with a large Pythou (P. sebae), 

 which I kept for some months, and never induced to feed. Among other 

 proffered viands was a live Rat, which I positively had to remove after 

 about thirty-six hours, as it had attacked the body of the lethargic serpent. 

 In this case I presume that hunger had overcome fear. — Ed.] 



