OF SELBORNE. 



5 



LETTER XXXI. 



TO THE SAME. 



DEAR SIR; Selborne, April 29, 1776. 



On August the 4th, 1775, we surprised 

 a large viper, which seemed very heavy 

 and bloated, as it lay in the grass basking 

 in the sun. When we came to cut it up, 

 we found that the abdomen was crowded 

 with young, fifteen in number ; the shortest 

 of which measured full seven inches, and 

 were about the size of full-grown earth- 

 worms. This little fry issued into the 

 world with the true viper spirit about them, 

 showing great alertness as soon as disen- 

 gaged from the belly of the dam : they 

 twisted and riggled about, and set them- 

 selves up, and gaped very wide when 

 touched with a stick, showing manifest 

 tokens of menace and defiance, though as 



