292 BRITISH SERPENTS. 



Bristol and District (part Gloucester, part Somer- 

 set). — " The ring snake is the commoner in damp places, 

 the adder in dry spots ; on the whole, the ring snake is 

 more numerous. I have measured an adder 24 inches, 

 but the average is under that figure, the ring snake 

 growing to a length of 36 inches, but the majority 

 are smaller. I once found three good-sized frogs and 

 one toad in a ring snake, the unfortunate amphibians 

 having been swallowed hind-leg first." — H. J. Char- 

 bonnier, 15 Cranbrook Koad, Eedland, Bristol. 



" The ring snake is the most common snake in this 

 county, the average length being about 2 feet, but I 

 have often taken them up to 30 inclies. The largest I 

 ever got was 36^ inches. 



" The adder also occurs, the average length being 

 about 13 or 14 inches, though I have found them as 

 large as 24 inches. 



" I have never seen the smooth snake." — Ed. L. T. 

 Austen, Wolford Fields, Shipton-on-Stour. 



Monmouthshire. 



In a county which shows the most diverse con- 

 ditions of cultivation and barren hills, populous 

 and lonely spots, it is only to be expected that 

 animal distribution will show great local variety, 

 and so it does. Both adders and ring snakes are 

 fairly common in their respective habitats, but, taken 

 over the whole county, the ring snake is the more 



