THE ADDER. 



99 



Tongue and windpipe. — As in the ring snake, 

 the tongue is provided with a strong muscular sheath, 

 and is deeply bifid. It is not often that a photo- 

 graph sufficiently accurately focussed can be obtained 



Note 



Fig. 24. — Adder (26^ inches). 



1. Bifid tongue. 



2. Head plates. 



3. Arrangement of scales. 



4. Markings. 



to show this distinctly, but it is well seen in the view 

 shown above — a large adder 26J inches long, captured 

 on the Kentchurch estate. This tongue, though an 

 object of terror to country-folk, is of course only used 



