THE Common viper is found in most countries of the ancient world; in the East Indies it is also to be met with, with only very slight variation from the individuals of Europe; and it is even able to support the vicissitudes of very cold climates, being found in Sweden, where its bite is nearly as dangerous as in the warmer regions of Europe. It is likewise found in Russia, and in several parts of Siberia, where it is very numerous, as the superstitions of the people deter them from endeavouring to destroy this noxious reptile, because that they conceive some terrible disaster will follow the attempt.

Vipers crawl slowly at all times, and in general only attack such smaller animals as are their usual food. They never willingly attack man or the larger animals, except when wounded, trampled upon, or irritated, when they become furious, and are apt to bite severely. From the firmer manner in which their spine is articulated, they are unable to turn or twist themselves so much as most other serpents, being only able to turn the head with any considerable degree of agility: owing to this circumstance, they are easily taken.-For this purpose, some persons use a forked stick, to fix the viper by the neck; and then, seizing it by the tail, throw it into a bag. Others, holding down its head with the end of a stick, take it fast in the left hand by the neck; and, while the animal makes ineffectual efforts to defend itself, with its mouth wide open, cut out its poisonous fangs with a pair of scissars or a knife; the viper, after this, is incapable of doing injury, and may be handled with perfect safety. The English viper-catchers have the boldness 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 fast.

The length of the common viper seldom exceeds two feet, though sometimes they are found above three: the ground colour of their belly is of a dirty yellow; that of the female is deeper: the back is marked the whole length with a series of rhomboid black spots, touching each other at the point; the belly entirely black. It is chiefly distinguished from the common-ringed snake by the colour, which in the latter is more beautifully mottled, as well as by the head, which is thicker than the body; but particularly by the tail, which in the viper, though it ends in a point, does not run tapering to so great a length as in the other; when, therefore, other distinctions fail, the difference of the tail can be discerned at a single glance. These animals are found in many parts of our own island, particularly in the dry, stony, and chalky counties. It is extremely difficult to kill this animal. It will exist for three or four hours, or longer, in spirits of wine; yet, tobacco, and especially its essential oil, proves speedily fatal to them.

THE head of this animal is short and round; the mouth large and wide, armed with four curvated teeth, two in each jaw; the eyes darting fire; and its bite inflicting cruel and inevitable death. It has also the faculty of erecting its scales at pleasure, or when irritated, and of closing them again with a rattling noise. A border of silver-white scales surrounds the mouth; the tongue is fleshy and forked, which the creature can protrude to a great length when offended; at which time it also shews its teeth in a menacing posture, like a snarling dog, and

thus it can shew or conceal its fangs at pleasure. The scales on the upper part of the body are elegantly speckled with pale yellow, cinerous grey, black, brown, and white, glistening most superbly in the sun. It is found in South America, and in the island of Ceylon; it will attack man or beast with great fury, erecting its crest, and darting forward with singular rapidity and courage. The male is deeper coloured than the female, and seems to have a larger body and a more slender tail. The general length of this snake seems to be about four or five feet, and the tail long in proportion to the body.

THE AMPHISBÆNA, OR BLIND SNAKE.

THIS species grows usually to the length of one or two feet, of which the tail never exceeds an inch, or an inch and a quarter; the eyes are exceedingly small, and covered in such a manner by a membrane, as to be hardly perceptible; from which circumstance, it has been called the blind serpent; the top of the head is covered by six large scales, in three rows of two each; and the body is entirely covered with smooth scales of an almost square form, arranged in regular transverse rings.

This animal is found in India, particularly the isle of Ceylon; and likewise in South America. Its habits are in a great measure unknown; but it feeds on earth worms, beetles, and various insects; it is particularly fond of ants; which, in numberless legions, often destroy all before them, leaving every thing desolate, as if consumed by fire. Having the power of advancing or withdrawing itself without injury, in consequence of its structure, this serpent is peculiarly fitted for penetrating into the subterraneous retreats of ants, worms, and other insects; and is able to dig deeper than any other serpent, its skin being. very hard, and its muscles very strong.

THE EGYPTIAN ASP.

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THIS animal is about three feet in length; the head is rather large, and covered with small carinated scales, the body with larger, of similar structure; the colour is pale rufous grey; and along the upper parts are three longitudinal ranges of deep rufous spots, bordered with black, and which unite or become confluent towards the tail, in such a manner as to exhibit the appearance of a zigzag band, resembling in some degree that of the common viper; the under parts are of a dusky colour, marbled with dull yellow; in the structure of its fangs it resembles the viper, and is said to be equally poisonous; the nose is terminated by an erect wart-like excrescence.

This creature preys by smell, and feeds on rats, mice, lizards, frogs, toads, &c.-Its bite is cured by volatile alkaline spirits, particularly that preparation called eaude-luce; and even by foetid spirit of tartar.

THE GREEN LIZARD.

THE colouring of this species is seen in its greatest brilliancy about the beginning of spring; when, after having thrown off its old covering, it exposes its new skin, with all its bright enamelled scales, to the genial warmth of the sun's rays, which, playing on the scales, gild them with undulating reflections: the upper parts of the body are of a beautiful green, more or less variegated with yellow, grey, brown, and even sometimes with red; the under parts being always more of a whitish colour: the colours of this species are subject to variety, becoming pale at certain seasons of the year, and more particularly after the death of the animal. It is chiefly in the warm coun

tries that it shines with all its superb ornaments, like gold and precious stones. In these regions it grows to a larger size than in more temperate countries, being sometimes found thirty inches in length.-The inhabitants of Africa eat the flesh of this animal.

The green lizard is by no means confined to the warmest countries of both continents: it is found likewise in temperate regions, though it is there smaller and less numerous. It is not even unknown in Sweden, and in Kamtschatka; and in both countries, in spite of its beautiful appearance, it is looked on by the inhabitants with horror, from some strange superstitious prejudices.

THE WARTY LIZARD.

THIS animal is six or seven inches in length, and entirely covered, except on the belly, with small warts. The under parts are of a bright yellow colour, and the upper mostly of a black brown, spotted with black. It is very common in this country, where it resides altogether either in the water, or in very damp places, and its tail being flattened perpendicularly, serves it as a rudder in swimming. It is usually seen crawling along the bottom, but it now and then rises, with a wriggling motion, to the surface.

Being never seen in winter, these lizards are supposed to retire into holes or mud, and become torpid. They deposit their spawn towards the end of May or beginning of June, in small clusters, consisting of several palish yellow-brown globules included in surrounding gluten. While young, they are furnished with fins on each side of the breast, which fall off when the animals attain a perfect

state.

These animals, like many other reptiles, change their skins at certain periods; which operation is generally performed at the end of every fortnight or three weeks.