CHAPTER XI. 
THE ADDER—Continucd, 
THE REPRODUCTION OF THE ADDER. 
PAIRING—TIME OF BIRTH—NUMBER OF YOUNG—NAKED EYE 
DEVELOPMENT. 
Pairing.—Female adders are more numerous than 
males, in the proportion of three or four to one. The 
process of the fertilisation of the female eges by the 
inale takes place soon after the winter hibernation is 
over—that is, in the month of April or early in May. 
At this time it is a@ common occurrence to see a male 
and a female adder lying together on a warm sunny 
bank, and I have seen as many as seven adders all in 
a heap. Should a single adder be killed at this time, 
careful watching for a day or two will generally result 
in the discovery of the mate in the same spot. The 
” 
term “bunching” is apphed to adders at this time in 
some districts, from the fact of their being seen or 
