II 



HINTS TO ADDER -SEEKERS 



It has occurred to me that a few hints or wrinkles 

 on the subject of adder - seeking might prove 

 serviceable to some readers of this work, seeing 

 that there are very many persons desirous of 

 making the acquaintance of this rare and elusive 

 reptile. They wish to know it — at a safe distance 

 — in a state of Nature, in its own home, and have 

 sought and have not found it. Quite frequently — 

 about once or twice each week in summer — I am 

 asked by some one for instructions in the matter. 



One of my sweetest-tempered and most bene- 

 volent friends, who loves, he imagines, all things 

 both great and small, pays the children of his 

 village sixpence for every dead adder or grass- 

 snake they bring him. He does not distinguish 

 between the two ophidians. It is to be hoped that 

 no such lover of God's creatures, including His 

 " wild wormes in woods," will take advantage of 

 these hints. Let him that finds an adder treat it 

 properly, not without reverence, and his finding 

 it will be to his gain in knowledge of that rare 

 and personal kind which cannot be written or 



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