34 r.Krrisii skkvents. 



a short linio botoiv. The twenty-two kiUeJ in Xo. 2 

 wore all yoniiL;- ones recently hatehed, and did not 

 measure more than eight inches in length. The hole 

 from which they were observed to issue was in the 

 hack wall soim* IS inches from the foundations, and 

 led to the outside, there beiuLj- iu> obstacle to the 

 passage of the reptiles. AVlien this old wall was 

 being repaired shortly afterwanls an astonishing 

 condition of alVairs was seen. No less than forty 

 bundles of eggs were found, each bundle consisting 

 of about thirty eggs, and out of every egg a young 

 ring snake was on the p(unt of issuing. These nieas- 

 urtnl (.') inches long. Thus there were within the 

 space of a few feet some 1200 young ring snakes. 



Mr Lewis further informs nu^ that for some years 

 tlie snakes have been getting more numerous near the 

 houses, and that scores have been killed every year 

 for the last few years in the open drain at the back 

 of the row. In the fields around, about fifty yards 

 away, several have been killed as long as 4 feet, and 

 many o feet. 



The old coal-})it seems to have nothing to do with 

 the snakes, as it has long been filled up and is not 

 overgrown with brambles or other cover. 



Last year (1S5M)") some wi>rkmcn were cpiarrying 

 some stone for building purposes in the old quarry, 

 and one ilay canu^ across an immense number of 

 snakes hibernal ing. They were of all sizes, from 7 

 inches to 4 fc»'t. Mr Lewis savs that he himself 



