^8 OUR REPTILES. 



In reference to the occurrence of this snake in 

 Sweden, Mr. Wheelwright, in a communication to 

 the Field newspaper,* says, " It is common on most 

 parts of the Continent, and by no means rare in 

 Sweden. It is met with as far north as Upsala, but 

 nowhere more common than around Grothenburg. 

 We call it in Sweden the ' Slat Snok,' or Smooth 

 Snake ; and in this lies the principal distinguishing 

 mark between it and the common ringed snake. In 

 the common snake the scales on the upper parts of 

 the body are imbricated, those on the back being 

 lancet-shaped, and distinctly keeled along the 

 middle, whereas in the Smooth Snake the scales are 

 oval, altogether smooth, without the slightest indi- 

 cation of a keel." As far as I can observe, with us 

 the Smooth Snake appears to be partial to stony 

 tracts ; it is perfectly harmless, and its principal 

 food appears to be mice ; and one which was kept a 

 long time in confinement would not touch a frog. 

 With us it rarely exceeds about two feet in length; 

 it appears to be of a much tamer and more com- 

 panionable nature than the common snake. A most 

 singular thing is that, according to Schlegel, the 

 female brings forth living young. He says, " The 

 egg> take three or four months to hatch inside the 

 mother, and in the end of August she brings forth 



* The Field, October 18th, 1862. 



