246 POPULAR SORIPTURE ZOOLOGY.

The shephiphon, translated adder in Genesis xlix., “ Dan
shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path,” is
supposed to be the Vipera or Coluber cerastes, the horned
viper, which measures generally less than two feet; it is
distinguished by a small horn or protuberance over each
eye, and is remarkable for lurking in the sand, and biting
the heels of horses, causing immediate torpidity in the legs.
The grey colour of these reptiles renders them difficult to be
distinguished from the sand, in which they conceal them-
selves; thus adding to the danger, and verifying the latter
part of the same verse, “ that biteth the horse’s heels, so that
his rider falleth backwards.”

The Adder is a species of the same genus, and the word
is frequently used indiscriminately with viper. In the
104th Psalm the original word which is there rendered
adder occurs for the only time, and it is of course difficult
to determine precisely what species is alluded to. The
proper meaning of the original word akshud is, coiling
or bending back; but this action is common to most ser-
pents, and in all probability no one species is meant,. as
the expression “ Adders’ poison is under their lips” may be
equally applied to a variety of venomous serpents. In the
58th Psalm, the word adder also occurs, but the marginal