366 COMMON VIPER, 



body runs a row of roundish or rather obscurely 

 subtrigonal dusky spots, continuing to the end of 

 the tail : the scales on the whole upper part of the 

 animal, are carinated : the under surface is of a 

 dusky or blackish colour, with a blueish gloss 

 somewhat resembling that of polished steel : the 

 general length of the Viper is about a foot and 

 half, or two feet, though some have been seen of 

 much greater length, measuring near three feet : 

 the fangs are situated, as in other poisonous ser- 

 pents, on each side the fore part of the upper jaw, 

 and are generally two in number, with a few 

 smaller ones lying near the principal or large 

 fangs, as if intended by Nature to supply the 

 place of the former when lost either by age or 

 accident. 



The Viper has always been considered as the 

 most poisonous of the European serpents, and in- 

 numerable are the cases recorded by medical and 

 other writers of the fatality of its bite : yet the 

 instances, in our own island at least, seem to be 

 far less frequent than generally supposed ; and 

 though the bite of this animal produces a painful 

 and troublesome swelling, yet it is rarely of any 

 other bad consequence. No doubt the case must 

 differ, as in the bite of every other poisonous ser- 

 pent, according to the nature of the part bitten, 

 the constitution of the person, the strength and 

 vigour of the animal, the season of the year, &c. 

 &c. and if the bite happens directly on a vein, it 

 may perhaps be productive of the most alarming 

 symptoms, and even sometimes prove fatal : yet 



