SEVERN PROVINCE. 299 



were laid at one time, but separate from one another." 

 — B. J. Horton, Sparkbrook, Birmingham. 



Wolverhampton District. — "The common ring 

 snake is the only species which occurs in this dis- 

 trict, and these I have seen in plantations, their 

 length being from 18 inches to 2 feet. These 

 snakes become common at Coalbrookdale, in Shrop- 

 shire, some eighteen- miles from here." — Wm. 

 Hutchinson, F.G.S., Wolverhampton. 



Staffordshire. 



" The ring snake is found generally in the county, 

 especially in the dry uncultivated woodland districts. 

 In some parts of the north of the county, especially 

 in the valley of the river Churnet, is this snake 

 common, one might almost say abundant, and may 

 be seen any sunny day in early summer and until 

 the end of September if the season is a warm one. 

 In winter the snakes are said to congregate in some 

 numbers amongst stones and in walls near the large 

 lime-kilns at Froghall, attracted by the warmth of 

 the large kiln- fires. 



"The adder is found in the uncultivated mosses 

 and marshy grounds of Cannock Chase and Chartley 

 Park, W T hitmore, and Wybunbury, but is not 

 common, and is becoming rarer as drainage takes 

 place. It is a useful animal to the farmer, destroy- 

 ing large numbers of mice and voles. After cast- 



