CHANNEL PROVINCE. 269 



seen measured 3 feet 2 inches. It is fairly common 

 in the central part of the county. 



" The small red viper occurs in the fir-clad hills of 

 the extreme west of the county, being absent in the 

 eastern parts, where the adder is ash - coloured 

 (Brighton, Lewes, and Crowborough). The ring 

 snake is common throughout the Weald, confining 

 itself to well-watered land." — Benjamin Lomax, 4 

 Cleveland Eoad, Brighton. 



South-East Sussex. — " In the course of ornitho- 

 logical rambles in the south-eastern part of the county 

 I have had many opportunities of observing our 

 snakes in their wild state, and I have also kept them 

 as pets, and so observed them also in captivity. In 

 the district referred to I consider the ring snake 

 common, and far more numerous than the adder. The 

 ring snake averages about 2 feet 9 inches and the 

 adder about 21 inches in length. The largest ring 

 snake I have seen in this neighbourhood was one 

 which was brought to me, and which measured a 

 trifle over 4 feet. These remarks apply to the S.E. 

 portion of the county only." — Walter Field, St Helens, 

 nr. Hastings. 



St Leonards. — " In the district the ringed snake 

 is much more common than the adder, probably in 

 the proportion of seven to one. Its average length is 

 34 inches. Although this species is generally sup- 



