THAMES PROVINCE. 277 



never seen one nearer. The occurrences of the 

 smooth snake are as follows : — 



" 1891. One killed by me in mistake for an adder, 

 which I still have preserved. 



" 1898. One taken alive by me and sent to the 

 Zoological Gardens, one killed by accident, and a 

 cast skin of a third found by my children. 



" 1899. One killed in mistake for a viper (a young 

 one). 



" 1900. One taken alive and handled by myself, 

 and which I believe is still living." — Bryan Hook, 

 Churt, Farnham, Surrey. 



Oxted District. — " On July 7, 1900, I captured 

 a large adder on Tatsfield Hill while collecting 

 caterpillars. In picking these off some low-growing 

 plants my fingers encountered the adder, and I 

 brought my butterfly-net into play and caught the 

 reptile in it. It measures 2 feet 2 inches in length 

 and 3J inches in girth. I also caught a sandy-grey- 

 coloured adder at the Warren, Folkestone." — M. G. 

 Palmer, Wilmer Museum, W. Norwood, S.E. 



Sutton. — " Many years ago I knew Sutton to be 

 the happy hunting-ground of the adder. The Ben- 

 hill Wood afforded shelter to innumerable adders, 

 but Benhill Wood is now, I believe, Benhill town, 

 but still the chalk pits in the neighbourhood must 

 even now be their home. Many years ago a party 



