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hear the birds with their various cries, coming in from the Solway 
to spend the night on their breeding ground. 
Ringed, or Grass Snakes, are only rare in this part of the county. 
In fact, I have only seen four in this district; one was in a small 
wood at Newlands, this one I seized by the head, to the consterna- 
tion of my companions, and dragged it out of the undergrowth ; 
two in Newby Cross Wood, and one at Blackmoss Pool, although 
I have seen their eggs several times, to the number of fifleen and 
twenty, joined together, in old compost heaps. ‘They are com- 
moner in the south-west of the county. I measured one near to 
Holm Rook which was 364 inches in length, and one in Eskdale 
37% inches. The Snake is an expert swimmer, and one we 
put in Blackmoss Pool swam with head erect, and the undulations 
of ws body looked pretty when in the water. Vipers on our 
mosses and heathlands are fairly common; we have seen a score 
in a day’s walk. I was jumping over a dry ditch at Orton, when I 
inadvertently killed one, as I thought, at the time. On picking it 
up and opening its mouth to examine its fangs, it struck me on the 
left forefinger, the only time I was ever bitten with one. We were 
always provided for these contingencies, as we carried a small case 
containing the necessary remedies for poisonous bites and stings ; 
although I neglected the bite of a small fly, which disabled my 
hand and arm for a few days. 
Speaking of bites brings to my remembrance a little episode. 
Near to Froddle Crooks, one fine, hot summer’s day, during 
holiday time at the races, I had spent all night in the wood, and 
owing to the sultry and oppressive atmosphere, I became very 
drowsy, so looked out for a nice place to have forty winks under 
the shade of the trees, not noticing the place particularly. I was 
soon in the arms of slumber, and I don’t know how long I had 
slept, for I awoke with a start, and found myself in a very 
unpleasant condition, being literally covered with ants. I had, 
unfortunately, been asleep on a huge nest of those insects, and 
they had retaliated. I was very particular after this in selecting 
my resting places. 
The first time we ever saw the Glow-worm in this district, was 
