SNAKES IN IRELAND IN 1900. 41 



from the report. Secondly, the trees which came 

 from England were fruit - trees, not shrubs. Thirdly, 

 and most important of all, the trees had not arrived 

 lately, but some three or four years ago. It is 

 obvious that these snakes are to be accounted for in 

 one of three ways : — 



1. The eggs may have been taken to Ireland in 

 the earth of the fruit-trees, or in the packings, as 

 Sir E, Hodson is inclined to think. 



2. The snakes may have been taken over as snakes 

 (probably very young, if this were so), either in the 

 trees mentioned or in something else taken to that 

 locality. 



3. It is just possible that some person introduced 

 them intentionally, and has been enjoying the joke 

 ever since October 8. However unlikely one may 

 deem this explanation, it must be reckoned with : 

 such things have happened before. Hoping to get 

 some more light on the matter, I then wrote to 

 Dr Thompson of Delgany, where the other snake 

 was reported from. He wrote to me as follows : — 



" The specimen of the yellow ringed snake found 

 here on . August 12, 1900, was 29 inches long. It 

 was discovered by a farm labourer under a cock of 

 hay in the field when pitching the hay on to a cart. 

 No one could account for its presence in these parts; 

 but I have a shrewd suspicion that as there was a 

 university camp (comprised of boys from English 

 schools) within half a mile from here in 1899, and 



