SXAKES SHELTERING YOUNG 373 



young adders in the stomach of the parent would 

 not necessarily be fatal to them as supposed.-' 



In 1903, on June i6th, I was strolling through 

 Kentish woodlands at Orlestone, near Ashford, in 



THE ADDER OE VIPER. 



company with Mr R. J. Balston. His head keeper, 

 named Stickles, informed us that he had lately 

 disturbed an Adder with her young ones ; that he 

 saw them enter the parent's mouth; that he killed 



^See Putnam, American Naturalist, vol. ii., p. 133. 



