34 BRITISH SERPENTS. 
a short time before. The twenty-two killed in No. 2 
were all young ones recently hatched, and did not 
measure more than eight inches in length. The hole 
from which they were observed to issue was in the 
back wall some 18 inches from the foundations, and 
led to the outside, there being no obstacle to the 
passage of the reptiles. When this old wall was 
being repaired shortly afterwards an ‘astonishing 
condition of affairs was seen. No less than forty 
bundles of eggs were found, each bundle consisting 
of about thirty eees, and out of every egg a young 
ring snake was on the point of issuing. These meas- 
ured 6 inches long. Thus there were within the 
space of a few feet some 1200 young ring snakes. 
Mr Lewis further informs me that for some years 
the snakes have been getting more numerous near the 
houses, and that scores have been killed every year. 
for the last few years in the open drain at the back 
of the row. In the fields around, about fifty yards 
away, several have been killed as lone as 4+ feet, and 
many 3 feet. 
The old coal-pit seems to have nothing to do with 
the snakes, as it has long been filled up and is not 
overgrown with brambles or other cover. 
Last year (1899) some workmen were quarrying 
some stone for building purposes in the old quarry, 
and one day came across an ininense number of 
snakes hibernating, They were of all sizes, from 7 
inches to 4 feet. Myr Lewis says that he himself 
