321 melon beds, in spite of all that my people can do to prevent them; which eggs do not hatch till the spring following, as I have often experienced. Several intelligent folks afsure me, that they have seen the viper open her mouth, and admit her helpless young down her throat on sudden surprises, just as the female opofsum does her brood into the pouch under her belly, upon the like emergencies; and yet the London viper catchers insist upon it, to Mr Barrington, that no such thing ever happens. The serpent kind eat, I believe, but once in a year; or rather but only just at one season of the year. Country people talk much of a water snake; but I am pretty sure without any reason; for the common snake (colubur natrix) delights much to sport in water, perhaps with a view to procure frogs and other food." To the bonourable Daines Barrington, esq. "In August 4. 1775, we surprised a large viper, which seemed very heavy and bloated, as it lay in the grass, basking in the sun. When we came to cut it up, we found that the abdomen 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, fhowing great alertness as soon as disengaged from the belly of the dam. They twisted, and wriggled about, and set themselves up, and gaped very wide when touched with a stick, fhewing manifest tokens of menace and defiance, though as yet they had VOL. Xi. $ S no manner of fangs that we could find, even with the help of our glasses. To a thinking mind, nothing is more wonderful than the early instinct which impresses young animals with the notion of the situation of their natural weapons, and of using them properly in their own defence, even before those weapons subsist, or are formed. Thus a young cock will spur at his adversary before his spurs are grown; and a calf or a lamb will push with their heads, before their horns are sprouted. In the same manner did these young adders attempt to bite before their fangs were in being. The dam, however, was furnished with very formidable ones, which we lifted up, (for they fold down when not used,) and cut them off with the point of our scifsars. There was little room to suppose that this brood had ever been in the open air before; and that they were taken in at the mouth of the dam, when the perceived the danger was approaching; because then, probably, we fhould have found them somewhere in the neck, and not in the abdomen." Extracts from Pennant's British zoology, respecting the viper. "They conceive a perfect egg within; but bring forth their young alive. "Providence is extremely kind in making this species far from prolific; we having never heard of more than eleven eggs being found in one viper; and those are as if chained together, and each about the size of a blackbird's egg. 66 They copulate in May, and are supposed to be. about three months before they bring forth. "They are said not to arrive at their full growth in less than six or seven years; but they are capable of engendering at two or three. "The viper is capable of supporting very long abstinence; it being known, that some have been kept in a box six months without food, yet did not abate of their vivacity. They feed only a small part of the year; but never during their confinement; for if mice, their favourite diet, fhould at that time be thrown into their box, though they will kill, yet they will never eat them. Their poison decreases in violence, in proportion to the length of their confinement. "These animals when at liberty, remain torpid throughout the winter; yet, when confined, have never been observed to take their animal repose. The "The viper catchers are frequently bitten by them in pursuit of their business; yet we very rarely hear of the bite being fatal. The remedy, if applied in time, is very certain; and nothing else but sallad oil, which the viper catchers seldom go without. axungia viperina, or the fat of vipers, is also another. Dr Mead suspects the efficacy of this last, and substitutes one of his own in its place; but we had rather trust to vulgar receipts, which perpetual trials have fhewn to be infallible. "The ancient Britains had a strange superstition in respect to these animals; of which there still remains in Wales a strong tradition*." *See Pliny, book 39, chap. iii, From another correspondent I have been favoured with the following fact, which perfectly corresponds. with the foregoing remarks. SIR, To the Editor of the Bee. "AN acquaintance of mine who lives in the Highlands of this county, had been telling me, some time ago, that he had killed a serpent which had young ones in it; but as I did not recollect the particulars of his story, I sent for him since I read G. R. H's paper, and he is now here: he says, That as he was one day returning home, he saw a viper among the heath, which he struck with his hand staff, and carried home half dead upon the same: that upon coming near his house, he threw it down, and struck it with a spade, and divided it into two; upon which there sprung out a number of small. creatures, very lively and nimble, which were undoubtedly the young of that viper. He says he continued looking at them till they had travelled a considerable distance, (by no means stuck together) and then he killed them, for fear that they might escape and live. The old one was about twenty inches long, of a blackish colour, with ugly yellow streaks; the young ones were all of a blackifh colour, about five inches long, of the thicknefs of a packthread; the head considerably larger than the rest. not quite sure as to their number; but is very certain it did not exceed twelve. If nothing more satisfactory has come to hand, from any other quarter, concerning the viper, the above may be agreeable to He is many of your readers, and may be depended upon as truth. I am, Sir, your most humble servant, Sutherland,? Sept. 24. 1792. } TH. R*. MORAL REFLECTIONS BY MIRA. For the Bee. THERE is a gentleness even in the enjoyment of the country, which seems to charm, without engrossing the mind; and to breathe over it a grateful calmnefs, more approaching to the happiness of the Divinity,. in proportion as it appears lefs a sensation of pleasure in ourselves, than a mild and celestial inclination of diffusing it to others. Even the very bree-. zes seem fraught with benevolence and purity, as they blow over the landscape, brightening every beauty, without even crushing the humblest; and diffusing to mortal bosoms, a harmony not unlike that of their native heaven! Enthusiastic as this description may seem, it is not merely visionary, since happier days have frequently realized it: nor did I then ever see the setting sun, with all those glorious scenes which succeed his departure of a summer evening, without feeling myself at once more sensible of the blessings of this life, and more worthy of those of the next.. There have indeed occurred whole weeks, in which I might say, with Hamlet, "It The phenomenon described in the letter of G..R. H. p. 5. still remains to be explained. When any person fhall observe one of a similar nature, it will be obliging to communicate it to the Editor. |