THE ADDER. 125 



undoubtedly a matter of the sex and age of the 

 adder, certain colours pertaining to the male or to 

 particular parts of the male, such as the throat and 

 belly ; certain other colours being no less character- 

 istic of the female or parts of the female. The 

 brilliancy or otherwise of these sex colourings is 

 mainly dependent on the age of the adder. 



