216 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
is marked the whole length with a series of rhom- 
boid al black spots, touching each other at the points. 
38. Vipers crawl slowly at all times, and, in gen- 
era], only attack such smaller animals as are their 
usual food. They never willingly assail man or the 
larger animals, except when wounded, trampled 
upon, or irritated, when they become furious, and 
are apt to bite severely. 
39. From the firmer manner in which their spine 
is articulated, they are unable to twist themselves 
round so much as other serpents. It is only the 
head that they can turn with any considerable de- 
gree of agility ; owing to this circumstance, they are 
easily taken. 
40. For this purpose, some persons use a forked 
stick, to fix a Viper by the neck ; and then, seizing 
it by the tail, throw it into a bag. Others take it 
fast in the left hand by the neck, and, while the an- 
imal opens its mouth, cut off its poisonous fangs with 
a pair of scissors ; the Viper, after this, is incapable 
of doing injury, and may be handled with perfect 
safety. 
41. The English Viper-catchers have the bold- 
ness to seize them suddenly by the neck, or even by 
the tail, with their hands ; and, holding them with 
a firm grasp, the animal is altogether incapable of 
turning itself sufficiently to bite the hand that holds it. 
42. Highly poisonous as the venom of the Viper 
is, when infused into a wound, it produces no effect 
whatever when taken into the stomach. Its flesh 
was once in great request as a restorative and rem- 
edy for various diseases. 
How is the Common Viper taken 1 What is said of its poison 1 
