THE ADDER. 125 
undoubtedly a matter of the sex and age of the 
adder, certain colours pertaining to the male or to 
particular parts of the male, such as the throat and 
belly ; certain other colours being no less character- 
istic of the female or parts of the female. The 
brillianey or otherwise of these sex colourings is 
mainly dependent on the age of the adder. 
