BRITISH REPTILES 



brane forming the " shell " can be cut through. The 

 food consists of birds and eggs, frogs, insects, mice, 

 newts, slugs, water-voles, and, it is said, fish. I have 

 known one to consume a nest full of young nightingales 

 which I had under observation. This species is much 

 thinner in proportion to its length than the Adder, and 

 tapers much more towards the extremity. This is not an 

 invariable rule, but holds good in most cases. The 

 general colouration is olive-green, with darker above, and 

 greenish-yellow lower down. There is a conspicuous 

 orange, or yellow, ring or collar, with a narrow line of 

 dark colour on the back of the neck. Behind this there 

 is a dark band, which is more pronounced on the neck- 

 sides than on the back. There is a single row of black 

 markings on either side of the body. The young are 

 darker at first, but soon assume the colouring of the 

 parents. It attains a much greater length than the 

 Adder, the average being between 30 and 36 inches. 

 Larger specimens have been recorded, one of 5 feet 

 8 inches having been obtained in Hampshire, but this 

 may be regarded as phenomenal. In addition to haunt- 

 ing marshy situations, this species is fond of entering 

 water quite voluntarily, and propels itself along with 

 its head just protruding from the liquid element. Its 

 movements are graceful and well worth watching. As 

 with all the reptiles, it casts its skin regularly, turning 

 itself inside out as it were, head and eye-coverings in- 

 cluded, and during Winter passes its time, like its con- 

 geners, in a state of torpor. It makes a most interesting 



14 



