PENINSULA PROVINCE. 255 



in this county. At birth the adder is 6 inches long, 

 the full-grown males being 24 inches, the adult females 

 as much as 27 inches. The ring snake is 7 inches 

 long at hatching, attaining a length of 3 feet 6 inches 

 when full grown. I have not found the smooth snake." 

 — H. P. Hearder, 26 Westwell Street, Plymouth. 



Mid-Devon. — " There is a ^ood deal of difference 

 of opinion as to which is the more common, the adder 

 or the ring snake ; probably the latter is. Those who 

 live on the hills see the adder most, while those in 

 the valleys find the ring snake more common. The 

 adder averages just under 2 feet, and the ring snake 

 about 30 inches. The small red viper occurs." — Dr 

 Dale, Tiverton. 



Dartmoor District. — "The adder is still very 

 plentiful here, and is far the most common species. 

 During the Easter holidays in 1899 no less than 

 nine were secured in the neighbourhood of this house 

 without being searched for. The adult adder measures 

 about 20 inches lon« here. In colouring there is 

 great variation. Of the nine mentioned, hardly two 

 were quite alike, though the dark -brown colouring 

 is commonest. The colour seems to depend chiefly 

 on locality. The adder found on the red and rich 

 land which is so valued in Devon is found to be 

 red, and is the same size as those found elsewhere. 1 



1 This is the most definite example of colour protection I have 

 heard of in British adders. — Author. 



