https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/48155131

Journal Title British birds Publication Details London, Year 1933-1934 Holding Institution Natural History Museum Library, London Rights Holder BB 2000 Ltd Sponsor BHL-SIL-FEDLINK Copyright & Usage License Type: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

Rights: https://biodiversitylibrary.org/permissions

Copyright Status: In copyright. Digitized with the permission of the rights holder.

Rights Holder: BB 2000 Ltd

Journal Title British birds Publication Details London, Year 1933-1934 Holding Institution Natural History Museum Library, London Rights Holder BB 2000 Ltd Sponsor BHL-SIL-FEDLINK Copyright & Usage License Type: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

Rights: https://biodiversitylibrary.org/permissions

Copyright Status: In copyright. Digitized with the permission of the rights holder.

BRITISH BIRDS With which was Incorporated in January, 1917," The Zoologist." AN ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE DEVOTED CHIEFLY TO THE BIRDS ON THE BRITISH LIST

EDITED BY H. F. WITHERBY

Volume XXVII (June 1933–May 1934) Issue: Number 7 (December 1, 1933) pages 176–178

(176) VIPERS PREYING ON YOUNG BIRDS. BY M. V. WENNER. (Plate 7). On the moors of North Wales the common viper {Viper a berus) habitually preys on chicks of Red Grouse [Lagopus s. scoticus) and young Meadow- Pipits [Anthus pratensis) and Ring-Ouzels [Turdus t. torquatus). One hot day in early June, 1932, I was out photographing on the moors near Cerrigydruidion. Passing through a disused heather-grown quarry my attention was attracted by a loud hissing, and closer investigation revealed a Ring- Ouzel's nest, containing four fledgelings, and a viper lurking in an adjoining crevice of rock, from which the hissing pro- ceeded (see Fig. i). Presently the viper emerged from its hiding place and slid over the nest, scattering the frightened occupants which, with one exception, hopped away and concealed themselves in the heather. Still hissing loudly the adder concentrated its attention on the remaining fledgeling, which kept absolutely motionless, apparently paralysed by fear. Soon, with wide- open jaws and hissing loudly, the viper slowly advanced on its prey (Fig. 2) and with a lightning stroke buried its fangs in the young Ring-Ouzel's shoulder and then coiled itself in front of its victim (Fig. 3) waiting for the poison to take effect, which it visibly did after the space of about fifteen minutes (Fig. 4). Unfortunately, I was prevented from photographing the concluding stages of this drama of the moors through some quarry men appearing on the scene and disturbing the viper. The fledgeling Ring-Ouzel died twenty minutes after being struck. On a subsequent occasion I found a viper actually swallow- ing a nestling Meadow-Pipit, and it was remarkable to note the extraordinary extensibility of the viper's jaws so as to permit the swallowing of prey of greater diameter than itself. The swallowing process occupies some considerable time, the prey passing by slow stages down the gullet (Plate 7) . The adder's bite soon proves fatal to small creatures and has very unpleasant effects on dogs, cattle and human beings. In the absence of permanganate of potash crystals rubbed freely into the excised wound, as much castor or olive oil as