XVII.] 
OF SELBORNE. 
57 
an object of yonr publications, you will not omit to mention 
common salad-oil as a sovereign remedy against the bite of the 
viper. As to the blind-worm {Anguis fragilis, so called because 
it snaps in sunder with a small blow), I have found on exami- 
nation that it is perfectly innocuous. A neighbouring yeoman 
(to whom I am indebted for some good hints) killed and opened 
a female viper about the 27th of May ; he found her filled with 
a chain of eleven eggs, about the size of those of a blackbird ; 
but none of them were advanced so far towards a state of matu- 
rity as to contain any rudiments of young. Though they are 
oviparous, yet they are viviparous also, hatching their young 
within their bellies, and then bringing them forth. Whereas 
snakes lay chains of eggs every sammer in my melon-beds, in spite 
of all that my people can do to prevent them ; which eggs do 
not hatch till the spring following, as I have often experienced. 
Several intelligent folks assure me that they have seen the viper 
open her mouth and admit her helpless youug down her throat 
on sudden surprises, just as the female opossum does her brood 
into the pouch under her belly, upon the like emergencies ; and 
yet the London viper-catchers insist on it, to Mr. Barriugton, 
that no such thing ever happens. The serpent kind eat, I be- 
lieve, but once in a year ; or, rather, but only just at one season 
of the year. Country people talk niucli of a water-snake, but, I 
am pretty sure, without any reason ; for the common snake 
{Coluber natrix) delights much to sport in the water, perhaps with 
a view to procure frogs and other food. 
I cannot well guess how you are to make out your twelve 
species of reptiles, unless it be the various species, or rather 
varieties, of our Lacerti, of which Eay enumerates five. I have 
not had opportunity of ascertaining these ; but remember well 
to have seen, formerly, several beautiful green Lacerti on the 
sunny sandbanks near rarnham, in Surrey ; and Eay admits 
there are such in Ireland. 
Selborne, June 18, 
