THE VIPER : A "TUSCAN " TALE [To the Editor
of the SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—In your issue of March 9th you published a short story by Ann Shepherd entitled " The Viper : a Tuscan Tale." It may be of interest to you to know that fifty years ago this story, identical in all but minor details, was current among the peasantry in County Cork. I have heard it from several sources, the incident having taken place in Cork market, the only variations from the Tuscan version being that the cock was walking about with a log of wood tied to its leg, this appeared to the man with the bunch of grass as merely a wooden match ; the explanation being that the grass contained a four-leaf shamrock, which is regarded in the South of Ireland as possessing supernatural properties. The remainder of the story is identical with the Tuscan
• version.
It seems remarkable that the same story should appear in such widely separated countries, possibly some of your readers who have made a study of European folk-lore may be able to offer further information.—I am, Sir, &c., Strangfard, Co. Down, N. Ireland. - Taos. G. NUNAN.
[The story to which our correspondent alludes centred upon the superstition found among peasant folk that anyone carrying a viper on his person was thereby immune from the attentions of witches.—En. Spectator.]
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