34 BRITISH SERPENTS. 



a short time before. The twenty-two killed in No. 2 

 were all young ones recently hatched, and did not 

 measure more than eight inches in length. The hole 

 from which they were observed to issue was in the 

 back wall some 18 inches from the foundations, and 

 led to the outside, there being no obstacle to the 

 passage of the reptiles. When this old wall was 

 being repaired shortly afterwards an astonishing 

 condition of affairs was seen. No less than forty 

 bundles of eggs were found, each bundle consisting 

 of about thirty eggs, and out of every egg a young 

 rins snake was on the point of issuing. These meas- 

 ured 6 inches long. Thus there were within the 

 space of a few feet some 1200 young ring snakes. 



Mr Lewis further informs me that for some vears 

 the snakes have been getting more numerous near the 

 houses, and that scores have been killed every year 

 for the last few years in the open drain at the back 

 of the row. In the fields around, about fifty yards 

 away, several have been killed as long as 4 feet, and 

 many 3 feet. 



The old coal-pit seems to have nothing to do with 

 the snakes, as it has long been filled up and is not 

 overgrown with brambles or other cover. 



Last year (1899) some workmen were quarrying 

 some stone for building purposes in the old quarry, 

 and one day came across an immense number of 

 snakes hibernating. They were of all sizes, from 7 

 inches to 4 feet. Mr Lewis says that he himself 



