x PREFACE. 
My cordial thanks are offered, too, to Sir Robert 
Hodson and Dr Thompson for supplying me with 
the actual facts in connection with the occurrence of 
ring snakes in Ireland; and to Mr Thomas and Mr 
Lewis for so kindly sending me information and 
specimens regarding the Plague of Snakes at Llanelly. 
Iam also indebted to G. A. Boulenger, F.RS., F.Z.8., 
for the measurements of adders in the British Museum, 
and other kind assistance. The fatal case of adder- 
bite IT have quoted from the‘ British Medical Journal,’ 
by permission of the editor; and the observer, Dr P. 
P. Jennings. 
With regard to the illustrations in this book, all are 
from my own photographs with the exception of the 
portrait of “ Brusher Mills,” which is supplied by Mr 
Short of Lyndhurst; the photo of the blunt-tailed 
ring-snake, which is by Mr Forrest, and that of the 
adder from Rey. H. A. Macpherson’s book, previously 
acknowledged. I owe a special debt of eratitude, 
however, to Rev. O. Pickard Cambridge for lending 
me specimens of the smooth snake to photograph. 
Snakes are not the easiest of objects to photograph, 
and I trust my illustrations will be judged, not from 
the point of view of artistic pictures, but as indicating 
the special point aimed at in each. 
Most of these photos are now published for the 
