336 BRITISH SERPENTS. 



season for an adder to be astir, and, curiously enough, 

 there had been a snowstorm on the previous night. 

 The average length of adders in this area I should 

 put at 18 inches. 



" I have never met with the ring snake in the 

 district, nor do I believe that the species is so 

 common as some state." — W. Johnson, Burnoptield, 

 Newcastle-on -Tyne. 



"The common ring or dunghill snake (as it is 

 sometimes called) is much more common than the 

 adder, with which it is often confounded, and is found 

 on dry and moist heaths and moors. It averages 

 from 24 to 30 inches. 



" The adder or viper (called eclder or ether in 

 Durham) is rare, and found chiefly on stony ground, 

 especially on the western moors of the county, in 

 Teesdale, Weardale, and Derwentdale, averaging in 

 length from 20 to 24 inches. 



" The smooth snake does not occur, to my know- 

 ledge." — J. W. Fawcett, Satley, Darlington. 



