20 OUR REPTILES. 



that " in most parts of Wales, and throughout all 

 Scotland, and in Cornwall, we find it a common 

 opinion of the vulgar that about Midsummer-eve 

 (though in the time they do not all agree) it is usual 

 for snakes to meet in companies, aud that by joining 

 heads together and hissing, a kind of bubble is 

 formed, which the rest, by continual hissing, blow on 

 till it passes quite through the body, aud then it 

 immediately hardens, and resembles a glass ring, 

 which whoever finds shall prosper in all his under- 

 takings. The rings thus generated are called 

 Gleinau Nadroeth; in English, snake-stones." In 

 winter the viper may often be found in its hyber- 

 naculum, several individuals together, intertwined 

 and in almost torpid state. From this circumstance 

 probably some of the notions connected with the 

 stones alluded to may have been derived. Mason, in 

 his " Caractacus," puts into the mouth of a Druid the 

 following passage : — 



The potent adder-stone 

 Gender'd 'fore th' autumnal moon ; 

 When in undulating twine 

 The foaming snakes prolific join ; 

 When they hiss, and when they bear 

 Their wondrous egg aloof in air ; 

 Thence, before to earth it fall, 

 The Druid, in his hallo w'd pall, 

 Receives the prize, 

 And instant flies, 

 Follow'd by th' envenom'd brood 

 Till he cross the crystaljlood. 



