British Reptiles : Snakes Two Turtles 



nevertheless there is not a doubt about the statement that 

 goats were retained on sheep-runs under the impression 

 that Adders left the ground where goats were kept. 



A full-grown Adder will measure anything up to 

 2 feet in length. This is what may be termed a " well- 

 matured adult." One in my collection is exactly 

 23 \ inches, and is about as large as any found in the 

 district for many years. * At times, however, an 

 abnormally large specimen is secured if reports can be 

 implicitly relied upon. 



The food-bill of the Adder is absolutely limitless. 

 It kills and eats all kinds of small animals, and some- 

 times kills what it cannot swallow. Even a Slow- 

 worm crossing the path of an Adder runs the grave 

 risk of being added to the latter's menu-card for the 

 day. It is a relentless reptile and a gluttonous feeder. 

 Considering its poison fangs, Ireland is blessed beyond 

 our mainland, for the Adder, like the harmless Ring 

 Snake, has no abiding-place in that Emerald Isle. 



It is worthy of note that the Adder is nocturnal in 

 its pursuit of prey, and its eye, like that of the cat 

 family, having a vertical and dilatable pupil, is well 

 adapted to its nocturnal habits. The Ringed Snake, 

 we have noticed, has numerous hooked teeth on its 

 jaws and palate, and these enable the animal to retain 

 and swallow live prey ; but the Adder is not furnished 

 in this way, and therefore it is compelled to kill its 



* I have in my possession an adder measuring fully 24 inches in 

 length ; it was killed in the Isle of Arran in August, 1910. ED. 



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