80 BRITISH SERPENTS. 



dark patches somewhat lozenge - shaped, one row on 

 each side. One patch is placed between each point 

 of the zigzag — thus : 



V r /\ V, 



a 



Fig. 14. — Side-markings op Aduei;. 



These side-markings are extremely variable in shape 

 and intensity, being sometimes almost merged in the 

 general body colour. The lip-scales, which are on the 

 sides of the jaws, are of a bright yellow, numbering, 

 as a rule, eight or nine. The colour of the belly is 

 very varied, there being all shades from deep slaty- 

 blue to grey. While the arrangement of the markings 

 is always much the same, the colours of the markings 

 exhibit a wonderful range of variation, which are dis- 

 cussed in a separate chapter. 



A Remarkable Adder. 



" The late Mr Kirkby of Ulverston once met with 

 the very remarkable viper here figured. He showed 

 it to me a short time before his death. It was 

 taken with his own hands in the neighbourhood of 

 Ulverston, where he lived so long. It was unique 

 in his experience. The ground colour of this snake 

 is uniformly olive-grey. The curious feature is that 



