6 



NATURAL HISTORY 



yet they had no manner of fangs that we 

 could find, even with the help of our 

 glasses. 



To a thinking mind nothing is more 

 wonderful than that early instinct which 

 impresses young animals with the notion 

 of the situation of their natural weapons, 

 and of using them properly in their own 

 defence, even before those weapons subsist 

 or are formed. Thus a young cock will 

 spar at his adversary before his spurs are 

 grown : and a calf or lamb will push with 

 their heads before their horns are sprouted. 

 In the same manner did these young adders 

 attempt to bite before their fangs were in 

 being. The dam, however, was furnished 

 with very formidable ones, which we lifted 

 up (for they fold down when not used) 

 and cut them off with the point of our 

 scissars. 



There was little room to suppose that 

 this brood had ever been in the open air 

 before; and that they were taken in for 

 refuge, at the mouth of the dam, when she 

 perceived that danger was approaching; 



