ADVICE TO ADDER SEEKERS 83 



warm or otherwise unsuitable, when has of all creatures the fewest friends 



the old basking-place will be changed among men. My sole object in picking 



for a new one. But, should he not be up an adder by the tail is to be able 



satisfied to lose sight of the adder imme- to look at its under-surface, which is 



diately after discovering it, he must be often the most beautiful part. As a 



provided with some simple contrivance rule the colour is deep blue, but the 



for its capture. colour varies, the darkest specimens 



My plan, which cannot be recom- being quite black, while the lightest 



mended to timid persons liable in blues have the turquoise and forget- 



moments of excitement to get flustered me-not shade. Occasionally we find 



and awkward, is to catch the retreating an adder with the belly plates of the 



adder quickly by the tail, which is a same ground colour, a pale straw 



perfectly safe proceeding if there is no yellow, as the upper part of the body, 



blundering, since the creature when with the dark blue colour in broken 



going from you is not in a position to spots and dots and lines inscribed on. 



strike. it. These markings in some cases 



I confess I am always a little re- resemble written characters, and it was 



luctant to offer such an indignity to the said of old that they formed the words 

 adder, as grasping and holding it up, If I could hear as well as see 



enraged and impotent, by the tail, No man of life would master me ' 



although such treatment may be to Probably these letter-like markings on 



its advantage in the end. We have a the creature's belly, like the minute 



naturalist in England who picks up black lines, resembling writing, on the 



every adder he finds and pinches its pale bark of the holly-tree, suggested 



tail before releasing it just to teach it some other more important meaning 



caution. The poor creeping thing to the priests of an ancient cult, and 



with a zigzag black band on his back gave the adder a peculiarly sacred 



to advertise his dangerous character, character. 



