56 OUR REPTILES. 



stances of capture were these recent accounts, 

 that, had there not been prior and more satis- 

 factory records in existence, it would have been 

 doubtful whether, on such incomplete details, it 

 had been prudent to recognize the Smooth Snake 

 as a British native. All who have devoted them- 

 selves to the study of the natural history sciences 

 know how very essential it is that the evidence 

 of the occurrence of any new, or supposed new 

 species, should be complete and authentic. Defi- 

 ciencies in these respects have heretofore caused 

 infinite trouble, and too great prudence cannot 

 be exercised in the endeavour to prevent their 

 occurrence again. In this case we think the 

 evidence sufficient, as above detailed, for the 

 recognition of the present species as a true 

 native. 



The Smooth Snake inhabits central and 

 southern Europe, is found in various parts of 

 France, but is not very common in the south of 

 that country : it occurs in Sicily and in the whole 

 of Italy and its islands, but is more frequent in 

 the north than in the south of that peninsula; 

 it is included in the fauna of Galicia and the 

 Bukovina, Silesia, and Carniola ; it is common in 

 Switzerland, near Zurich, but rare in Belgium, 

 where it has been met with near Louvain, and 

 on the right bank of the Moselle. Schinz states 



