llEV. M. C. H. BIRD ON THE VIPER. 
245 
Sheep in former years from Viper bites, the many heaths and 
commons of West Norfolk abounding in these reptiles. As with 
all animals in a wild state, Vipers have their favourite localities ; 
certain spots on sand-hills, marsh wall, or hedgerow bank, being 
a sure find in early Spring. Our marshes are much infested with 
Voles, the grass around the roots of Rush and Sedge being, in the 
drier spots, honey-combed with their runs. The abundance of these 
little rodents, and of Frogs too, perhaps accounts for the prevalence 
of Vipers and Short-eared Owls; and the few Harriers, that still 
annually visit us, may likewise be partly attracted by both reptiles 
and rodents. The Ring Snake I have never seen in East Norfolk, 
but Lizards are fairly common upon the dry marshes adjoining 
the sand-hills at Horsey. I saw more than a dozen there on 
May 13th, 1899. 
The greatest number of eggs I have noted as taken from a Viper 
was 25, by Nudd, on May 9th, 1900. Ho killed nine adults that 
day. As to the swallowing trick, I)r. Leighton proved, in the 
‘Zoologist’ for September, 1900, that “theoretically considered there 
is no anatomical reason why the theory should not bo true.” It 
does really seem impossible, when one reads all the many letters 
that have from time to time appeared in the sporting papers and 
other periodicals, within the past ten years, to believe that all the 
“eye-witnesses” who therein gave their impressions were deceived. 
Rut still, at the same time, the case must go as “ unproven,” for, in 
spite of the £10 reward offered in Yorkshire and Dumfries-shire by 
the late Sir W. H. Flower, and many oilier minor public offers 
made in other counties, no Viper with swallowed young inside it 
has ever been sent in on claim. Brusher Mills of the New Forest 
(who has caught as many as 3186 Vipers in fourteen years) wrote 
in February, 1895, offering to show the performance to any one 
who cared to visit him in the following July and August. 
Mr. Tegetmeier, Natural History Editor of ‘The Field,’ went 
down fruitlessly that year, and left Mills all the necessaries for 
forwarding samples to ‘ The Field ’ Office, but up to February, 1901, 
as Mr. Tegetmeier very kindly wrote me word, Mills has sent 
nothing more than two parturient females. 
In vol. xiii. page 108 of the ‘Boy’s Own Paper,’ Dr. Arthur 
Stradling, a well-known authority on reptiles, wrote, “ I have never 
known any snake show the slightest care for its young.” 
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