VIPER. 
90 
numbers. The general length of the viper is about 
eighteen inches or two feet, though they are occa- 
sionally met with rather longer. We are taught to 
distinguish it from the common snake by the head, 
which is larger, and particularly by the tail, which 
does not taper to so great a length. We must ac- 
knowledge the kindness of Providence towards us, 
in limiting the numbers of this noxious reptile. 
They are far from being prolific, seldom above 
eleven eggs being found in one viper, and those as 
it were chained together, and each about the size 
of a blackbird’s. The young are excluded alive 
towards the end of the summer, and the female is 
supposed to go about three months before she brings 
forth. Each egg contains from one to four young 
ones, which at the appointed time burst the shell, 
and when grown to a proper size creep from their 
confinement into the open air. “ On the fourth of 
August 1755,” says Mr. White, “we surprised a 
large female viper, which seemed very heavy and 
bloated, as it lay on the grass, basking in the sun. 
When we came to cut it up, we found that the ab- 
domen was crowded with young, fifteen in number ; 
the shortest of which measured full seven inches, 
and were about the size of full-grown earth-worms. 
This little fry issued into the world with the true 
viper spirit about them, showing great alertness as 
soon as disengaged from the body of the dam ; they 
twisted and wriggled about, set themselves up, 
and gaped very wide when touched with a stick, 
showing manifest tokens of menace and defiance, 
