THE ADDER. 181 



as he was quite unprepared, the parent got away in 

 the nettles before he could secure her. 



" Mr Merrytield, head gardener on the same estate, 

 who has in his time acted as judge at most of the 

 leading East Kent flower-shows, says that he once 

 saw a viper's head crushed on the road in front of him 

 by a passing waggon. When he arrived on the spot 

 several young vipers between 3 and 4 inches in 

 length were escaping from the ncch. He is positive 

 that the body of the adder, apart from the head, was 

 perfectly nninji/red. He does not remember the date, 

 but if you knew the man you would not hesitate to 

 take his word. Mr Merrylield also says that the late 

 wood-reve on the estate often used to affirm that he 

 had also witnessed the act of swallowing. There are 

 thus, with those I have mentioned in previous letters, 

 ' four distinct cases on one estate, and probably inquiry 

 would elicit more. 



" The fact is, that among this class of people the oc- 

 currence is so generally recognised as to call for little 

 comment, except perhaps to make a passing remark, 

 and then little more is thought of it." — Eythorne, 

 31st July 1900. 



" F.S. — ^fay I say by way of postscript ? I had 

 just finished this letter, and got it in the envelope but 

 not sealed, when a friend called in, and having the 

 subject on my mind, and knowing that he had lived 

 all his life in a district where adders abounded, I 



