SERPENTS. 411 
ascertained that the eggs are formed, though they are 
hatched in the body of the mother. 
The Reverend Mr. White of Selborne, in company with 
a friend, surprised a large female Viper, which as she lay 
on the grass, basking in the sun, seemed very heavy and 
bloated. As Vipers are so venomous that they should be de- 
stroyed, they killed her ; and afterwards, being curious to 
know what made her so large, they opened her, and found 
in her abdomen fifteen young ones, about the size of full 
grown earth-worms. This little fry issued into the world 
with the true Viper spirit about them, showing great alert- 
ness as soon as they were disengaged from the body of their 
parent. They twisted and wriggled about, set themselves 
up, and gaped very wide when touched with a stick ; ex- 
hibiting manifest tokens of menace and defiance, though 
as yet no fangs were to be discovered, even by the help of 
glasses. 
Vipers attain their full growtli in seven years ; they feed 
on frogs, toads, lizards, and other animals of that kind ; it 
is even asserted that they catch mice and small birds, a 
food of which they seem very fond. They cast their skin 
every year. The teeth of the Viper are surrounded with a 
small bladder containing poison. There is no doubt but 
this poison, which appears to have been infused into the 
jaws of the Viper and other serpents by Providence, as a 
means of revenge upon their enemies, is so harmless to 
the animal himself, that when swallowed by him it only 
serves to accelerate his digestion ; and, indeed, if the venom 
were hurtful to the Viper when he swallows it, how could 
he masticate frogs and mice without breaking the baneful 
bladder, and being injured by the poisonous liquor ? The 
Viper is very patient of hunger, and may be kept more 
than six months without food. When in confinement, the 
Viper neither requires nor tastes food, and the sharpness of 
its poison decreases in proportion : when at liberty, it 
remains torpid throughout the winter ; yet, when confined, 
T 2 
