British Reptiles : Snakes Two Turtles 



emphatically assert that their eyes could not deceive 

 them. The writer has often seen whole families 

 scouring the heathery slopes of the mountains, and even 

 in the presence of the gravest danger from man and 

 dog, no instance of the parent Adder inviting its 

 offspring within its jaws was ever noticed. I once saw 

 a schoolboy chase and kill no fewer than seven young 

 Adders, and although the parent was present for a time, 

 it never exhibited the least sign of opening its jaws as a 

 refuge for its youngsters. But while this is the case there 

 is no doubting the fact that many close observers are 

 confident Adders can thus protect their offspring. The 

 question remains undecided at the moment. 



Adders are dangerous. Indeed, as has already been 

 noted when speaking of the Ringed Snake, they are the 

 only poisonous reptiles in the British Isles. Within 

 this creature's head there is a poison that is deadly in 

 its action. So far, however, as human beings are con- 

 cerned, no deaths are on record, although there have 

 been many instances in which the bite of an Adder has 

 given rise to serious apprehensions. The Adder's head 

 is small when viewed alongside the other portions of 

 its anatomy. It is also strikingly flat in appearance. 

 The poison fangs are placed in the upper jaw. The 

 lower jaw boasts of a row of teeth. The fangs fold 

 against the gums when not in use. When the Adder 

 is on the war-path its principal method of attack is by 

 coiling its lithe body with the head erect but held some- 

 what back from the centre of the coil. In this position 



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