THE ADDER. 181 



as he was quite unprepared, the parent got away in 

 the nettles before he could secure her. 



" Mr Merry field, head gardener on the same estate, 

 who has in his time acted as judge at most of the 

 leading East Kent flower-shows, says that he once 

 saw a viper's head crushed on the road in front of him 

 by a passing waggon. When he arrived on the spot 

 several young vipers between 3 and 4 inches in 

 length were escaping from the neck. He is positive 

 that the body of the adder, apart from the head, was 

 perfectly uninjured. He does not remember the date, 

 but if you knew the man you would not hesitate to 

 take his word. Mr Merryfield also says that the late 

 wood-reve on the estate often used to affirm that he 

 had also witnessed the act of swallowing. There are 

 thus, with those I have mentioned in previous letters, 

 four distinct cases on one estate, and probably inquiry 

 would elicit more. 



" The fact is, that among this class of people the oc- 

 currence is so generally recognised as to call for little 

 comment, except perhaps to make a passing remark, 

 and then little more is thought of it." — Eythorne, 

 31st July 1900. 



" P.S. — May I say by way of postscript ? I had 

 just finished this letter, and got it in the envelope but 

 not sealed, when a friend called in, and having the 

 subject on my mind, and knowing that he had lived 

 all his life in a district where adders abounded, I 



