325 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 



IX. MERSEY PROVINCE. 



58. Cheshire. 60. West (i.e., Mid) Lan- 



59. South Lancashire. cashire. 



Cheshire. 



'' The ring snake is the most common, averaging 3 

 feet in adult state, but has been taken up to 4 feet. 



" The adder is fairly common, the adult averaging 

 18 inches. 



"The smooth snake does not occur, to my know- 

 ledge. 



" I have kept all three of our snakes in captivity. 

 I have bred ring snakes, and witnessed the copulation 

 of these animals. The male becomes very active for 

 about half an hour before copulation, cutting all sorts 

 of fantastic capers, the female remaining quite pass- 

 ive. A female I had in captivity always laid her 

 eggs in the same spot in the cage, that spot being the 

 warmest, where she and the eggs got the morning, 

 noon, and afternoon sun. She always incubated her 



