90 HAMPSHIRE DAYS 



us which is outside of us, and may affect other crea- 

 tures. More than that, there may be a subtle current 

 which goes out and directly affects any creature (or 

 person), which we regard for any length of time with 

 concentrated attention. This is one of the things 

 about which we know nothing, or, at all events, learn 

 nothing from our masters, and most scientists would 

 say that it is a mere fancy; but in this instance it 

 was plain to see that always after a time something 

 began to produce a disturbing effect on the adders. 

 This would first show itself in a slight restlessness, 

 a movement of the body as if it had been breathed 

 upon, increasing until they would be ill at ease all 

 the time, and at length they would slip quietly away 

 to hide under the bank. 



The following incident will show that they were 

 not disturbed at seeing me standing near, assuming 

 that they could or did see me. On one of my visits 

 I took some pieces of scarlet ribbon to find out by 

 an experiment if there was any truth in the old belief 

 that the sight of scarlet will excite this serpent to 

 anger. I approached them in the usual cautious way, 

 until I was able, bending forward, to look down upon 

 them reposing unalarmed on their bed of dry fern ; 

 then, gradually putting one hand out until it was 

 over them, I dropped from it first one then another 

 piece of silk so that they fell gently upon the edge 

 of the platform. The adders must have seen these 

 bright objects so close to them, yet they did not sud- 



