The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-03-12
THE VIPER.

At recent monthly meeting of the Kendall Nat
ural History Society, letter was read from Mr..
w. Pearson, On the natural history Of Crossth-
waite, from which we give the following extract -
ION the afternoon of 23d July last, says Mr. Pear.
son. the servant girl called me into the pantry in
great furry. She said hag-worm was trying to
get in at the window. And there it was sure
enough, raising itself straight up from the window
sill; hrst trying one paine and then another
strangely puzzled, no doubt, that what seemed so
clear in opening should offer any obstruction. The
glass manufacture was evidently mystery to it
The window being low, it had crawlsd over hsap
OF sand lying before it. 1t had probably smelt
something tempting in the pantry, with which it
wished 10 make nearer acquaintance 1t was a
beautiful creature. Its small mead, prominent dark
eyes, and pretty mottled SKIN mi ght have pleaded
strongly for mercy but, notwithstanding my gen.
erai habit OF spari1g these reptiles when | meet
with them IN my walks, It Was approaching too
much in the gpise OF housebreaker to be pardon
ed, so gave orders for its instant execution
Moreover, there is little doubt that it was the same
individual who had, il times past came rather too
nearus to be pleasant. The year before, had NO.
uced viper within yard or two of our kitchen.
door, with his head and about half foot of his
body thrust out from hole in the wall right behind
the kitchen CRATE. The genial climate had most
likely attracted him. BE this as it may, before
could procnre switch to chssise him for his in,-
pudence, lie very p:udently withdrew into his hole
oaiy protrudlng part Of mis- head and eyes, with
which 10 make observations. For some days after
this, never entered the house by tne back-door
or twice had glimpse Of him in his old quarters,
but he very warily never exposed more of his
precious person than his head and eyes, SO that ii
II had not be n for his unfortunate expedition to
the pantry, he might still have been a living hag-
worm You sware that this species of snake
has at least three names in England-the viper, adj
der, and hagwOrm. The last is our own loc al term
Some authors class 1t with the amphbia. An
traordlnary narrative appeared lat ly in the Ken
dai Mercury OF snake crossing Conn stone Lake,
which is at least half mile wide 1t was not the
sea serpent, but our poor little hagworm, that
engaged in this bold navigation. 1t was, however,
unfortunately fallen in with by pratical boatman,
and put TO death Without sputng the nth of
the narration, or settling the question how tar the
viper s amphbious, the remark is obvious, that the
poor snake was taken at disadvantage tor If it
had been equally at home on the water as on land,
why did it not itself by diving as an eel or a
frog would have dont under like circumstances
Again, why is not the name OF the hoatrnan given
Why should he be defrauded OF his fair famea 1t
Is to be wished that wspaper editors, in general
were more careful 10 authenticate their many
yelous tales in natural history. Ii would be great
satisfaction to the skeptical naturalist, One may
easily credit that viper will .onay take the
water, without going the length Of tul belief In
the Connistone yoya e.
One day last spring, when angling, met with
one OF these snakes, coled up, within few feet
OF the WlnSter stream, and when disturbed he fled
toward the water, though did not see him entt
1t ii is curious the varle of situations in which
they are 10 be met with in the lowest parts of the
valleys, and on the tops OF our highest hills
times close to our houses, as have mentioned; In
the plain field and in the toughest wood-henee the
name, hegwora on the roadside, the ling
moor, where they sometimes bite the sportsman's
dog, though never heardro Of any fatal consequent
ees In crossing turnpike road sunny day,
they are often mpied 10 nger, such is their love
OF warmth, and bask on the heated stones and Dust
where they are sure to be killed by the first passen
gsi they are never spared. lheir slnaous tracks
observed, e,nriding on. o1e dsv ,b;a s9mmer 80
cnasad ~, oas .d 9pu ;,. ,Is fas
hibited beautiful specimen Of serpeuune motion,