2 1 6 The Field Naturalist's Quarterly August 



Reappearance of the Smooth Snake in 

 Berkshire. 



By G. E. Blundell, Wellington College. 



In Dr. Leighton's book on British Serpents, a letter is 

 quoted from Mr. J. L. Bevir, of Wellington College, Berks, 

 in which the latter states that he remembers the time when 

 Coronella austriaca (the smooth snake) was not uncommon 

 in this locality ; and further states that no less than five 

 specimens were brought to him in one summer. Mr. Bevir 

 goes on to say that no specimens have been taken in the 

 district for many years, and he fears that this interesting 

 snake is now extinct in Berks. However, as the result of 

 a lecture on indigenous snakes, given by the editor of this 

 Journal to the Natural History Society at Wellington 

 College, the boys have given more attention to the reptiles 

 than they did formerly, and the latest discovery has been 

 a fine specimen of this very species. Curiously enough, Dr. 

 Leighton almost prophesied this event, both in his book and 

 in his lecture. He accounts for the rarity of this species 

 partly from its being so like the adder that it is destroyed 

 in mistake for it, and never recorded ; and partly because 

 it has never been seriously looked for in some localities in 

 the south of England. When at Wellington College he 

 said that he should be quite prepared to find that the 

 smooth snake still existed amongst the heather, and that 

 careful search would reveal it. 



On 1 8th June 1903 a specimen of C. austriaca, the 

 smooth snake of Dorset, Hants, and Surrey, was found in 

 the heather near the school rifle-range at Wellington Col- 

 lege, Berks, by R. H. A. Morshead. Its total length when 

 brought to me was 2ih inches, the tail being 3f inches. 

 From comparison with other species, I believe it is a male, 

 but upon this point I am not certain. In colour it is a 

 a greyish green, with brownish blotches along the sides, 

 most distinct near the neck ; and when placed in the heather 

 it is extremely difficult to see, especially as it usually hides 

 the whole of its body, only peering out with the head 



