210 
NATURAL HISTORY 
We found the cafe to be the fame with the ring-tail hawk, in 
refpedt to formation ; and, as far as I can recolledV, with the fwift ; 
and probably it is fo with many more forts of birds that are not 
granivorous, 
I am, &e» 
LETTER XXXL 
TO THE SAME.. 
DEAR SIR, Selborne, April 29, 177S. 
O N Augujl the 4th, 1775, we furprifed a large viper, which feemed 
very heavy and bloated, as it lay in the grafs bafking in the fun. 
When we came to cut it up, we found that the abdomen was 
crowded with young, fifteen in number ; the fhorteft of which 
meafured full feven inches, and were about the fize of full-grown 
earth-worms. This little fry ilTued into the world with the true 
viper-fpirit about them, Ihewing great alertnefs as foon as difen- 
gaged from the belly of the dam : they twilled and wriggled about, 
and fet themfelves up, and gaped very wide when touched with a 
flick, fliewing manifeft tokens of menace and defiance, though as 
yet they had no manner of fangs that we could find, even with the 
help of our glafies. 
To 
