SCOTLAND. 347 



Ardgay, June 21, 1900. 



Sir, — Those who take an interest in these matters 

 may like to know that serpents, not adders, of from 

 3 feet upwards are known in the Highlands. 



The report I sent you did not say that the 35-inch 

 snake was an adder. Any person of mediocre intel- 

 ligence or common-sense knows that adders seldom if 

 ever exceed 28 inches. The biggest I ever measured 

 was 27J inches exactly. The other long snakes I do 

 not know by name, but they exist. The biggest I 

 have heard of was 4 feet 4 inches, killed by a Donald 

 MacLeod, shepherd, Cearbhaig, near Cape Wrath, an 

 account of which was published in a London paper 

 at the time, but not by me. The information I got 

 as to the paragraph which appeared in your columns 

 was given by a gentleman holding a public office, 

 and who is not given to exaggeration. I have since, 

 however, interviewed the slayer of the serpents, and 

 he assures me that in his opinion the 35 inches re- 

 ported by me was under the mark. He had no tape- 

 line or foot-rule with him at the time, so his only 

 recourse was to measure with his boots, of which the 

 big snake exceeded three lengths. The man stands 

 about 6 feet in height. He tells me he has had 

 letters from Edinburgh, Glasgow, and other places, 

 to all of which he replied, giving full particulars as 

 to the size, colouring, &c, of the snake. Mr Murray's 

 full name, designation, and address were given at the 

 time. — I am, &c, Your Correspondent. 



