154 THE BOOK OF THE OPEN AIR 



field natualists and gamekeepers as to ning the adder realizes the situa- 

 the best places for finding and observ- tion and fixes his two fangs in the 

 ing snakes. There is no difficulty, rubber-covered blades of the catcher. 

 The keeper shows us six adders and From each fang there exudes a drop 

 two harmless ring snakes which had of pale yellowish-green fluid, which 

 been killed by the beaters in a rabbit is the secretion of the venom gland, 

 shoot a day or two previously. Every Several times he repeats this until 

 villager has a story to tell of the local satisfied that all attempts to escape 

 reptiles, and it is quite evident that are useless, and then our captive 

 they abound in this locality. settles down into a sullen vindictive 

 Four hours hunting next morning sulk. He is now comparatively harm- 

 brings its own reward. A ring snake less for a time at least, for having 

 is seen scuttling along the bottom of emptied the contents of the venom 

 the ditch by the roadside, within a gland it will take some time before a 

 hundred yards of the village inn. The dangerous dose is again secreted, 

 hedge is thick and the snake moves We carefully carry the adder securely 

 so rapidly that it is impossible to catch held in the instrument into the middle 

 it under such circumstances. Stroll- of the lane, and there set him free so 

 ing very quietly along the lonely lane as to watch his movements in the 

 we soon encounter an adder curled up open. The first thing he does on dis- 

 on a little grass-covered hillock. The covering that he is no longer held by 

 reptile is asleep, basking in the morn- the neck is to disgorge his morning 

 ing sun as is their custom. With meal, which in this case has evidently 

 great care we are able to approach consisted of two young field-mice, a 

 within a yard of it, to note the graceful favourite article of adder diet. He 

 attitude, to recognize the brilliant then glides sullenly and slowly along the 

 markings which characterize the young lane for a few yards ; but on observing 

 male adder in the shape of a dark that he is kept closely in view, he 

 black zigzag line alone the middle of gathers himself up into a curled heap, 

 the back. The soft grass enables us his head on the top of the curl, and 

 to pick up the reptile in our adder hisses defiance. An incautious step 

 catcher (an instrument something like too close shows that he will fight 

 a pair of tongs) actually before our when cornered, for he strikes like light- 

 presence is discovered. Quick as light- ning at our ankle, fortunately pro- 



