OFSELBORNE. 51 
chains of eggs every fummer in my melon beds, in I'pitc of all 
that my people can do to prevent them ; which eggs do not 
hatch till the fpring following, as I have often experienced. 
Several intelligent folks afTure me that they have feen the viper 
open her mouth and admit her helplefs young down her throat 
on fudden furprifes, juft as the female opoffum does her brood 
into the pouch under her belly, upon the like emergencies ; and 
yet the London viper-catchers infill on it, to Mr. Barrington, that 
no fuch thing ever happens. The ferpent kind eat, I believe, but 
once in a year ; or, rather, but only jull at one feafon of the year. 
Country people talk much of a water-fnake, but, I am pretty fure, 
without any reafon ; for the common fnake {coluber natrix) delights 
much to fport in the water, perhaps with a view to procure 
frogs and other food. 
I cannot well guefs how you are to make out your twelve fpecies 
of reptiles, unlefs it be by the various fpecies, or rather varieties, 
of our lacerti, of which Ray enumerates five. I have not had op- 
portunity of afcertaining thefe ; but remember well to have feen, 
formerly, feveral beautiful green lacerti on the funny fandbanks 
jiear Farnbam, in Surrey ; and Ray admits there are fuch in Ireland, 
H 
LETTER 
