$44 THE zZOOLOGisT. 
vivipara, Schreiber (Herpetologia Europea, 1875, s. 429), is 
common in Ireland, and much feared by the people as poisonous, 
although without any reason. According to Ray, Lacerta viridis, 
Daudin, is also found, but, as suggested by Bell (Brit. Rept.), 
this is probably only a green variety of Lacerta agilis. The 
O’F laherties bear a lizard on their coat of arms, the life of one of 
their ancestors haying been saved by a lizard which ran over his 
face and neck, and waked him from sleep at the approach of his 
enemies. From snakes, the slow-worm included, Ireland seems 
indeed to be altogether free.” 
In the ‘Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal’ for April, 
1835 (vol. xviii. p. 873), itis remarked, ‘‘ We have learned from 
good authority that a recent importation of snakes has been made 
into Ireland, and that at present they are multiplying rapidly 
within a few miles of the tomb of S. Patrick.” On this Thompson 
observes :—‘“‘I never heard of this circumstance until it was 
published, and subsequently endeavoured to ascertain its truth 
by inquiring of the people about Downpatrick (where the tomb 
of 8. Patrick is), who are best acquainted with these subjects, 
not one of whom had ever heard of snakes being in the neigh- 
bourhood. Recollecting that about the year 1831 a snake 
(Natria torquata), immediately after being killed at Milecross, 
was brought by some country people, in great consternation, 
to my friend Dr. J. L. Drummond, I thought this might be one 
of those alluded to, and recently made inquiry of James Cleland, 
Esq., of Rathgael House, Co. Down, twenty-five miles distant in 
a direct line from Downpatrick, respecting snakes said to have 
been turned out by him. I was favoured by that gentleman with 
the following satisfactory reply:—‘'The report of my having 
introduced snakes into this country is correct. Being curious to 
ascertain whether the climate of Ireland was destructive to that 
class of reptiles, about six years ago I purchased half a dozen of 
them in Covent Garden Market, in London. ‘They had been 
taken some time, and were quite tame and familiar. I turned 
them out in my garden. ‘They immediately rambled away; one 
of them was killed at Milecross, three miles distant, in about 
a week after its liberation, and three others were shortly after- 
wards killed within that distance of the place where they were 
turned out.’” 
Rewards for the capture of adders were offered, apparently by 
' ve ee 
