We found die cafe to be the fame with the ring-tail hawk, in
refpeft to formation ; and, as far as I can recolleft, with the fwift ;
and probably it is fo with many more forts of birds that are not
granivorous.
I am, &c.
L E T T E R XXXI.
TO TH E S A M E .
D E A R S IR , S e l b o r n e , A p ril ig , 1 7 7 6 .
O n Augv.fi the 4th, 1775> we furprifed a large viper, which feemed
very heavy and bloated, as it lay in the grafs balking'in the fun.
When we came to cut it up, we found that the abdomen was
crowded with young, fifteen in number; the fhortefl; of which
meafured full feven inches, and were about the fize of full-grown
earth-worms. This little fry iffued into the world with the true
viper-fpirit about them, fhewing great alertnefs as foon as difen-
gaged from the belly of the dam : they twilled and wriggled about,
and fet themfelves up, and gaped very wide when touched with a
flick, fhewing manifeft tokens of menace and defiance, though as
yet they had no manner of fangs that we could find, even with the
help of our glaffes.
To
O F S E .L B O R N E . a n
T o a thinking mind nothing is more wonderful than that early
inflinft which impreffes young animals with the notion of the fitua-
tion of their natural weapons, and of uftng them properly in their
own defence, even before thofe weapons fubfifl or are formed.
Thus a young cock will fpar at his'adverfary before his fpurs are
grown; and a calf or a lamb will pufh with their heads before their
horns are fprouted. In the fame manner did thefe young adders
attempt to bite before their fangs were in being; The dam however
was furnifhed with very formidable ones, which we lifted up
(for they fold down when not ufed) and cut them off with the point
of our feiffars.
There was little room to fuppofe that this brood had ever been
in the open air before; and that they were taken in for refuge, at the
mouth of the dam, when fhe perceived that danger was approaching;
becaufe then probably we fliould have found them fomewhere in the
neck, and not in the abdomen.
Ë e a l e t t e r