192 THE BOOK OF A NATURALIST 



something be found ? Not assuredly in the paper 

 the snakist has written, nor in the monographs and 

 Natural Histories ; where then ? — since in the 

 absence of the mysterious creature itself it might 

 be interesting to read it. 



It is true that in spite of a great deal of bruising 

 by Christian heels the serpent still survives in this 

 country, although it can hardly be said to flourish. 

 Sometimes, walking by a hedge - side, a slight 

 rustling sound and movement of the grass betrays 

 the presence of the common or ring snake ; then, 

 if chance favours and eyes are sharp, a glimpse may 

 be had of the shy creature, gliding with swift 

 sinuous motions out of harm's way. Or on the 

 dry open common one may all at once catch sight 

 of a strip of coppery-red or dull brown colour with 

 a curious black mark on it — an adder lying at ease 

 in the warm sunshine ! Not sleeping, but awake ; 

 a little startled at the muffled thunder of approach- 

 ing footfalls, with crackling of dead leaves and 

 sticks, as of a coming conflagration ; then, per- 

 haps, the appearance of a shape, looming vast and 

 cloudlike on its dim circumscribed field of vision ; 

 but at the same time lethargic, disinclined to move, 

 heavy with a meal it will never digest, or big with 

 young that, jarred with their parent, have some 

 vague sense of peril within the living prison from 

 which they will never issue. 



Or a strange thing may be seen — a cluster of 

 hibernating adders, unearthed by workmen in the 

 winter time when engaged in quarrying stone or 



