274 BRITISH SERPENTS. 



Abbey Wood District. — " In the neighbourhood of 

 Abbey Wood the ring snake is common, and averages 

 30 inches in length. I have seen specimens in my 

 own and in neighbours' gardens. When working 

 Chattenden Woods at Cliff Kent for entomological 

 purposes, I have disturbed a great number of ring 

 snakes, and I should say they averaged 3 feet in that 

 locality. 



" When I lived at Abbey Wood no adders had been 

 seen there for some years. I am not aware of the 

 smooth snake being found. 



" I found in a ring snake which had been killed and 

 brought to me a full-sized toad {Bufo vulgaris), and 

 another which was brought alive ejected portions of a 

 bird" — Arthur S. Poore, 47 Griffin Road, Plumstead. 



" The ring snake is the commonest snake of the 

 county, averaging about 37 inches, though I have seen 

 them as large as 3 feet 9 inches — these latter very 

 rarely. The adder averages 23 inches, and I have 

 found them growing to a length of 2 feet 1 inch, but 

 that is not usual. The smooth snake does not occur, 

 to my knowledge." — Fred. Roberts, Tunbridge Wells. 



" At a place on the chalk downs about three miles 

 from Dover adders are very numerous, and on a warm 

 spring morning I have seen dozens of them basking in 

 the sun. Near Farthing Common, about fifteen miles 

 from Dover, I have seen many adders. During the 

 late spring and early summer a great number of young 

 adders, about the size of earthworms, may be found in 



