SEVERN PROVINCE. 293 



numerous. lu some places near Abergavenny it is 

 extremely common, and often grows to oh or 4 feet. 



In the extreme north of the county, from Mon- 

 mouth Cap to where the Monnow joins the Wye, 

 the adder is the common serpent — in some parts, 

 indeed, the only species; and here the average 

 length is unusually great, as was stated in the de- 

 tailed account of this area in chap. xiv. 



The small red viper occurs in the northern part, 

 but not the smooth snake. — Author. 



Herefordshire. 



I liave many times heard the remark made by 

 Hereford farmers, " There are no snakes [i.e., ring 

 snakes] in Herefordsliire, only adders." This, though 

 not absolutely true for the whole county, is true 

 for many parts of it. It applies particularly to that 

 part of Herefordshire which lies to the south of the 

 Wye, where in some places adders are common and 

 ring snakes almost unheard of. The same thing 

 applies to a part of the county near the Worcester- 

 shire boundary — at Bishopsfrome. The average size 

 of male adult adders in the county is 24 inches, 

 females 25|- inches, these measurements being based 

 on a large series of adders I have measured during 

 the last five years (1895 to 1900). As showing how 

 adders escape observation unless carefully looked for, 

 1 may mention that a very good observer of birds 

 in the county was extremely surprised to hear that 



