THE ADDER. 181 
as he was quite unprepared, the parent got away in 
the nettles before he could secure her. 
“Mr Merryfield, head gardener on the same estate, 
who has in his time acted as judge at most of the 
leading East Kent flower-shows, says that he once 
saw a viper’s head crushed on the road in front of him 
by a passing waggon. When he arrived on the spot 
several young vipers between 3 and 4 inches in 
length were escaping from the mech. He is positive 
that the body of the adder, apart from the head, was 
perfeelly uninjured, We does not remember the date, 
but if you knew the man you would uot hesitate to 
take his word. My Merryfield also says that the late 
wood-reve on the estate often used to affirm that he 
had also witnessed the act of swallowing. There are 
thus, with those I have mentioned in previous letters, 
four distinct cases on one estate, and probably inquiry 
would elicit more. 
“The fact is, that among this class of people the oc- 
currence is so generally recognised as to call for little 
comment, except perhaps to make a passing remark, 
and then little more is thought of it.’—Kythorne, 
dist July 1900. 
“PS—May I say by way of postscript? I had 
just finished this letter, and got it in the envelope but 
not sealed, when a friend called in, and having the 
subject on iny mind, and knowing that he had lived 
all his hfe in a district where adders abounded, I 
