TiilTON. 
REPTILES. BATRACHIA. 
157 
Aziguis Sibb. Scot. 28 — Vipera, Ray^ Syn. Quod. 285. — Col. Berus, Linn. 
Syst. i. 377. Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 26 — IF, Neidr, ISl^eider du, Giviber ; 
O, Nathair. In heaths. 
I^ength from 2 to 3 feet. Colour dirty- 3 ’^ellow ; a stripe, on each side, of 
black triangular spots, and a dorsal stripe of confluent rhomboidal spots. Space 
between the eyes and two spots on the crown, black. The head is broad be- 
liind ; edges of the jaws covered with large scales. Belly dusky, tinged with 
blue. Scales on the belly 142 to 148; pairs on the tail 30 to 40. Ovovivi- 
parous, producing from 12 to 25 young. Feeds on insects, frogs, and mice. 
Becomes torpid during the winter. — As this species is subject to considerable 
variety in its markings, depending upon age, sex, or season, it has been mul- 
tiplied into the following species, which Dr Leach, in the third Amlume of his 
Zoological Miscellany has, with propriety, reduced to the rank of varieties. 
1. Black Viper.) Col. Prester, Linn. Syst, Nat. i. 377* — Colour nearly black. 
Lacepede says, Ov. Quad. iii. 247, that, “ in this species, the top of the head 
is not entirely covered with scales, resembling those of the back, as in the 
common viper ; but there are three scales, a little larger than these, placed 
between the eyes, one advanced towards the nose, and two immediately be- 
hind.” This character, however, is possessed by the viper. 
2. Blue-bellied Viper.) Rev. Revett Sheppard.) Linn, Trans, vii. p. 56. In this 
the back seems more tinged with brown, and the belly with blue, than usual. 
3. Red Viper.) Rev. Thomas Rackett) Linn. Trans, xii. 349,— This is sup- 
posed to be the Coluber chersea of Linnseus. It possessed the heart-shaped 
spot on the head, and the dark spot near the extremity of the tail. Above, a 
bright red colour. “ I received the viper from the Reverend John Tregon- 
will Napier, Rector of Chettle, in Dorsetshire, who killed it in Cranborne 
Chace. It is extremely rare, but known to the game-keepers under the name 
of “ The Red Viper^*’ ib. 350. It has likewise been found by the Reverend 
Revett Sheppard, in the parish of Levington, and other places in the county 
of Suffolk, in arid waste situations.” — Linn. Trans, xxii. 615. 
BATRACHIA. 
Gen. V. TRITON. Eft. — Feet four, supported by bones. 
Four toes on the fore-feet, five behind, without claws. 
Tail compressed. 
The young are produced from eggs, laid on aquatic plants; 
breathe at first by gills ; and have two claspers under the 
throat, by which they can adhere to a leaf. When the 
feet become perfect, the gills and claspers are absorbed. 
6. T. palustris. Warty Eft. — Body covered with small 
warts ; brownish-black above ; orange, with black spots below. 
Lacerta palustris, Linn. Syst. i. 370 — Warty Lizard, Pe7in. Brit. Zool. 
iii. 23. Shepp. Lin. Trans, vii. 52 — Inhabits ponds and marshes. 
Length between 6 and 7 inches. Head depressed; snout blunt, finely 
freckled with yellowish -white. A smooth space between both pairs of legs. 
