298 BRITISH SERPENTS. 



quently see it, at Ankerdiue Hill, at Knight wick, 

 and at Old Storridge, near Leigh Sinton, and prob- 

 ably in many other localities which I cannot speak 

 of from actual experience. 



" The ring snake averages about 3 feet. I have 

 seen adders varying from 18 to 26 inches long, but 

 I should say the average length would ■ be from 22 

 to 24 inches. The smooth snake I have never heard 

 of in Worcestershire." — Wm. H. Edwards, Curator, 

 " Hastings " Museum, Worcester. 



Warwickshire. 



"The ring snake is the most common here, the 

 average length being from 30 to 32 inches. In cer- 

 tain localities this species seems fairly plentiful. 

 One of these places is Beoly, twelve miles from Bir- 

 mingham, where I took several this summer (1900), 

 and one last summer which measured 39 inches. I 

 have never been fortunate enough to take a specimen 

 of the adder myself in this county, but I am told it 

 is fairly common in Sutton Park, a few miles from 

 Birmingham. The only measurement I can find re- 

 corded of an adder is that of one taken in the spring 

 of 188-1 in this park, which was 23 inches in length. 

 There is no record of the smooth snake occurring. 



" I have at the present time a large specimen of the 

 ring snake which laid sixteen eggs last August. The 

 first three of these were laid separately, and at inter- 

 vals of two or three days each, whilst the other thirteen 



