20 OUR REPTILES. 



that "in most parts of Wales, and throughout all 

 Scotland, and in Cornwall, we find it a common 

 opinion of the vulgar that about Midsummer-eve 

 (though in the time they do not all agree) it is usual 

 for snakes to meet in companies, aud that by joining 

 heads together and hissing, a kind of bubble is 

 formed, which the rest, by continual hissing, blow on 

 till it passes quite through the body, and then it 

 immediately hardens, and resembles a glass ring, 

 which whoever finds shall prosper in all his under- 

 takings. The rings thus generated are called 

 Gleinau Nadroeth; in English, snake-stones." In 

 winter the viper may often be found in its hyber- 

 naculum, several individuals together, intertwined 

 and in almost torpid state. From this circumstance 

 probably some of the notions connected with the 

 stones alluded to may have been derived. Mason, in 

 his "Caractacus," puts into the mouth of a Druid the 

 following passage : — 



The potent adder-stone 

 Gender'd 'fore th' autumnal moon ; 

 When in undulating twine 

 The foaming snakes prolific join ; 

 When they hiss, and when they bear 

 Their wondrous egg aloof in air ; 

 Thence, before to earth it fall, 

 The Druid, in his hallow'd pall, 

 Receives the prize, 

 And iustant flies, 

 Follow'd by th' envenom'd brood 

 Till he cross the crystal_fl.ood. 



