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CHAPTER XVII. 



EXAMINATION AND RECORDING OF SPECIMENS. 



Every field naturalist who wishes to make his obser- 

 vations of permanent value, or to record them in the 

 transactions of a society, should keep careful notes of 

 all specimens examined. A definite scheme ought to 

 be adopted for each species or class, and the follow- 

 ing is the method advocated for keeping records of 

 serpents. The figures are taken from the record of 

 the most recent adder in my collection. 



Species. — Vipera herus, common adder. 



Bate of capture. — March 15, 1901. 



Locality. — Norton, Skenfrith, Monmouthshire. 



Sex. — Female. (This is determined by the tail being 

 sharply marked off from the body, and its shortness; 

 the general colouring, the throat colour, the belly 

 colour, and number of shields.) 



Total length. — 25 J inches. (Note whether above or 

 below the average for the particular locality.) 



Length of tail. — 2J inches. 



Head-plates. — Show the normal arrangement. (Note 

 the size of the parietals and their relation to the 



